OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study is to investigate the prognosis and influencing factors of crown-fractured young permanent teeth with pulp exposure.

METHODSCase records of crown-fractured young permanent teeth with pulp exposure in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology during 1991 to 2008 with more than 2 years follow-up were collected. These patients were treated with pulpotomy at the first visit at our hospital no matter whether these teeth were treated or untreated with direct pulp capping. The age of patients, interval between trauma and treatment, root development, mobility and tenderness to percussion were recorded. The prognosis was analyzed and Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors.

RESULTSTotally 118 cases satisfied the inclusion criteria, including 136 crown-fractured teeth with pulp exposure. The patients of (8.8 +/- 1.2) years old were periodically monitored for (46.1 +/- 22.0) months. The success rate of pulpotomy after pulp exposure was 85.3%. Pulp necrosis occurred in 20 teeth (25.0 +/- 19.0) months after trauma. The extent of tenderness to percussion showed significant correlation with pulp necrosis, while the age of the patients, interval between injury and treatment, and mobility of the teeth were not related to pulp necrosis.

CONCLUSIONThe success rate of pulpotomy after pulp exposure is good. Tenderness to percussion is an important signal of pulp necrosis. There are no evidence about the relationship between the patient's age, interval between injury and treatment, mobility of the pulp-exposed teeth and the pulp prognosis.