Apexification of a primary central incisor: 6-year follow-up.

Rmoval of abscessed primary teeth has been sug;ested because they have been shown in some tudies to create developmental defects with underlying permanent successors.' However there might be a rationale for attempting pulp therapy in some carefully selected cases, i.e., abscessed incisor prior to eruption of primary cuspids, as space closure may occur. In necrotic immature teeth, the wide and funnel-shaped root canals cause difficulties for endodontic treatment, especially removal of all necrotic tissues from the canal walls and adequate obturation. A number of treatment solutions have been described. Only when apexification using calcium hydroxide was introduced could favorable results be obtained. Apexification promotes elongation of the root and formation of a calcific closure across the enlarged apex of immature permanent teeth. Whether this procedure can be used successfully in primary teeth is unknown. The purpose of this article is to describe the apexification of a nonvital, primary maxillary central incisor treated with calcium hydroxide followed for 6 years until its permanent successor erupted.