Five-year follow-up of conservative management for root fractures in immature permanent tooth post trauma: A case report and literature review

Vertical root fractures in young permanent teeth secondary to dental trauma are rarely documented in the literature. This case report presents an effective conservative management strategy for preserving a young permanent tooth with a cervical vertical root fracture utilizing splinting techniques and long-term follow-up. We report the case of a 6.5-year-old child who presented with a trauma-induced vertical root fracture in the maxillary left central incisor (tooth #21). Over a 5-year follow-up period, successful hard tissue healing and complete root maturation were observed. By detailing the treatment protocol and reviewing relevant literature, this report analyzes the factors influencing vertical root fracture prognosis and highlights the remarkable self-healing capacity of immature teeth. The favorable clinical outcomes demonstrate that conservative management through splinting provides a viable and highly effective therapeutic option for treating vertical root fractures in young permanent dentition.