ORIGINAL / ORIGINAL

 

Pulp revascularization: an alternative treatment to the apexification of immature teeth

 

Revascularização pulpar: tratamento alternativo à apicificação de dentes jovens com rizogênese incompleta

 

 

Maria Tereza Pedrosa ALBUQUERQUE^I; Juliana Yuri NAGATA^II; Adriana de Jesus SOARES^II; Alexandre Augusto ZAIA^II

^I Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita, Faculdade de Odontologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, Departamento de Endodontia. Rua Engenheiro Francisco José Longo, 777, 12245-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brasil
^II Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Odontológica, Departamento de Endodontia. Piracicaba, SP, Brasil

Correspondence:

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Pulp revascularization can be considered as a current alternative treatment to apexification, recommended for immature teeth cases, requiring endodontic treatment. Apexification involves long-term periodic exchanges of a calcium hydroxide paste into the root canal to induce the formation of a calcified barrier. Despite being the most classically therapy employed for these cases, the permanence of calcium hydroxide for long periods of time and also the successive changes may lead to a weakening of the root due to its hygroscopic properties and the proteolytic activities of calcium hydroxide, increasing the risk of fractures and contamination of the pulp space. Thus, a constant search for new treatment alternatives that provide the end of root development have been done to avoid the risk of future root fractures. So, revascularization has emerged as a new treatment option for cases of undeveloped teeth, that provides not only apical closure, as apexification, but also increase the dentin walls thickness. In the literature, there is an assortment of treatment protocols employing pulp revascularization procedure in attempt to attain the best way to achieve success. Assuming the diversity of protocols for revascularization treatment, it is important to go deep in the literature to collect, describe and discuss these protocols guiding new researches in this field and also conducting the clinicians. Therefore, this review aims to assess the literature on the different revascularization protocols.

Indexing terms: Dental pulp. Endodontics. Regeneration.

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RESUMO

A revascularização pulpar pode ser considerada atualmente como um tratamento alternativo à apicificação e é indicado para dentes com rizogênese incompleta e necessidade de tratamento endodôntico. A apicificação envolve a realização de trocas periódicas em longo prazo de uma pasta de hidróxido de cálcio com o objetivo de formar uma barreira calcificada. Apesar de ser a terapia mais empregada, a permanência desta medicação por longos períodos e as trocas sucessivas, podem levar à fragilização da raiz devido às propriedades higroscópicas e proteolíticas do hidróxido de cálcio, aumentando o risco de fraturas e contaminação do espaço pulpar. Desta forma, tem-se buscado novas alternativas de tratamento que possibilitem o fechamento do forame apical dos dentes imaturos sem que ocorra a fragilização dos mesmos. A revascularização pulpar tem surgido como uma nova opção de tratamento para estimular o término do desenvolvimento radicular e não apenas o fechamento apical. Há na literatura uma variedade de protocolos utilizando esta técnica, buscando sempre alcançar o sucesso no tratamento. Diante dessa variedade, é de grande importância a realização de uma revisão de literatura sobre revascularização pulpar visando reunir, descrever e discutir os diferentes protocolos, para que possam direcionar novas pesquisas e ser empregada de forma adequada pelo clínico. O objetivo desse trabalho é revisar na literatura os diferentes protocolos de revascularização pulpar.

Termos de indexação: Polpa dentária. Endodontia. Regeneração.

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INTRODUCTION

Research involving revascularization procedures has been developed since the 1950's and 1960's, however then the focus was somewhat different, aiming to revascularize the ischemic pulp tissue following injury involving immature teeth. It was observed that replanted or transplanted teeth could recover their revascularized tissue in spite of the injury^1-4. In 1961, Östby⁵ observed in his study the importance of the blood clot in the periapical healing of teeth with empty root canals.

In the late 70's and early 80's, in vivo studies on dogs evaluated the capacity of ischemic pulp tissue to revascularize after having been replanted due to avulsion. They observed that some teeth developed revascularization of pulp tissue and in others, tooth resorption was initiated without revascularization^6-7. In addition, these authors found that a shorter extra-alveolar time could improve the prognosis of success in avulsed teeth. One year later, Kling et al.⁸ correlated some factors in the prognosis of replanted teeth, i.e. frequency of pulp revascularization of replanted incisors, apical foramen diameter, extra-alveolar time, storage medium and post-operatory prescription of antimicrobials. It was demonstrated that immature teeth maintained in favorable extra-alveolar conditions for less than 45 minutes could provide a greater possibility of pulp revascularization.

In the 90's, more precise researchers of monkeys evaluated the action of systemic antibiotic administration on the pulp revascularization of ischemic pulp tissue due to tooth avulsion⁹. Results demonstrated that systemic antibiotics could not prevent pulp tissue contamination.

In general, most of the studies in the past have stated that pulp tissue vitality could be reestablished after replantation of immature teeth through the hypothesis of revascularization. However, Ostby⁵ already reported that loss of pulp tissue vitality, leaving an empty root canal space, could be repaired with ingrowth of periapical tissue through apical foramen, provided that a sterilized environment can be maintained. Despite the relevance of this reflection, little relevance was attributed to it at the time.

From 2000, revascularization began to be reported as an alternative to apexification. Researchers focused their attention on the possibility of achieving root-end development (i.e. apical closure, increasing width and length of root dentin) in necrotic, immature teeth after a careful endodontic treament¹⁰. Iwaya et al.¹¹, reported a clinical case of an immature tooth diagnosed with pulp necrosis that was treated with root canal decontamination using irrigant solution and triple antibiotic paste, followed by definitive restoration. Radiographically, the thickness of the dentinal wall of the tooth had increased, apical closure and repair of periapical lesion after monitoring for 5 months. Later, several case reports^12-17 used different chemical irrigants and intracanal medications, most of which irrigated the root canal with sodium hypochlorite, whether or not combined with intracanal dressing with antibiotics.

Besides the case reports, clinical research^1,18-19 and in vivo animal studies^20-23, also investigated pulp revascularization results. Firstly, these protocols promote root canal disinfection, followed by blood clot induction from the periapical region and ultimately coronary sealing¹. Thus, it creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of new tissue. All these recent studies were designed in accordance with previous findings using replanted or transplanted, immature teeth that healed through the replacement of necrotic pulp tissue via revascularization^9,24.

In addition, recently, it has been investigated whether pulp metaplasia or pulp regeneration may occur after pulp revascularization²⁵. Pulp metaplasia refers to the repair of root canal space through the formation of periodontal ligamentlike cells and osteoblast-like cells. On the other hand, pulp regeneration occurs when new pulp tissue develops with the same characteristics as the damaged tissue.

Based on the importance attributed to conservative endodontic treatments and considering the possibility of obtaining promising outcomes using pulp revascularization treatment, this study aimed to review the literature on pulp revascularization, highlighting the main aspects of the protocols used that could have a positive influence with the critical analysis of the conduct of immature teeth, mainly concerning the recommendation of revascularization as an alternative to apexification.

Pulp revascularization/revitalization and regeneration concepts

Pulp regeneration may be defined as the replacement of damaged tissue by cells identical to the lost tissue, leading to the complete reestablishment of biological function²⁶. Unlike regeneration, tissue healing promotes the replacement of damaged tissue with a different tissue consisting of a fibrosis or scar. Thus, tissue lesion healing may not lead to tissue regeneration, since only an embryo in the first few months of gestation (until week 24) is able to completely regenerate when damaged, and any tissue lesion after birth will always be associated with a scar, at the very least²⁷. Therefore, the healing of irreversible pulpitis, pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis after endodontic treatment is not related to complete regeneration of damaged tissue²⁶. Pulp tissue regeneration in vitro, developed using stem cells, may, in the future, become a reality since the new tissue would be developed in a favorable environment using undifferentiated cells presenting high potential for differentiation, stimulated by specific growth factors²⁸. Complete regeneration of infected/inflamed periapical tissue in immature, necrotic teeth is unlikely to happen, however removal of the aggression factor (infection) may create a favorable environment for tissue repair. In this context, the outcome of pulp revascularization/revitalization may be explained through the same mechanism of tissue repair.

Revascularization may be defined as the invagination of undifferentiated periodontal cells from the apical region in immature teeth^29-30. Tissue ingrowth is directed towards the root canal space after passive decontamination that removes, partially or totally, pulp tissue and/or its necrotic remnants. Some protocols used to fill root canal space with blood clots from periapical tissues, which can contribute to transporting periodontal stem cells inside the root canal space. Periodontal/ periapical cells have been related to the desirable outcomes of pulp revascularization (root-end development and apical closure). Besides the so-called revascularization terminology, pulp revitalization has also been used to define the formation of vital tissue inside the root canal. However, this definition could promote a conceptual conflict since pulp tissue possesses specific histological features that the invaginated tissue, originating from periapical tissue, may not reproduce. In addition, revitalization of tissue could create the idea of residual necrotic or inflamed pulp tissue undergoing regeneration (development of an identical pulp tissue filling the root canal space).

How does revascularization happen?

There are a number of theories that explain the revascularization mechanism. The periapical region of immature teeth presents multipotent periodontal cells with great potential for differentiating into new fibroblasts and cementoblasts³¹. So, it has been suggested that differentiated cementoblasts and fibroblasts are responsible for increasing dentinal walls and apical closure¹. Another hypothesis suggests that residual multipotent stem cells from pulp tissue may be abundant in young, immature teeth, adhering to dentinal walls to generate odontoblast-like cells for rootend development³¹. A third possibility involves the ingrowth of stem cells from apical papilla that could proliferate inside root canals through the blood induction of periapical tissues, since these cells have high proliferative capacity, probably being transported inside root canals in association with bleeding induced from the periapical tissue³².

In addition to the abovementioned hypothesis, various growth factors incorporated in the blood clot and/ or dentin may play an important role in the cell proliferation inside the root canal space^33-34. Finally, the root anatomy of immature teeth (e.g. presenting open apex, wide root canal and thin radicular dentin walls) may favor the communication of canal space and periodontal tissue to achieve apical healing with periodontal tissue. With regard to the apical opening, revascularization seems to be more predictable when the apical diameter is greater than 1 mm and is unlikely to occur in apical openings narrower than 0.3 mm²⁵. This type of repair was previously described in classic studies with dogs that induced the formation of blood clots in immature teeth filled beyond the apex foramen, resulting in the ingrowth of periodontal tissue repair in the region⁵.

Root canal decontamination

The first step in the endodontic treatment of infected root canals involves disinfection through the use of chemical substances and mechanical instrumentation³⁵. However, in immature teeth, the mechanical removal of microorganisms is not recommended due to the fragility of the thin root walls, requiring a decontamination restricted to the use of irrigant solutions and intracanal medication^36-37.

Irrigant solutions

The chemical substances used most frequently worldwide are sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX)³⁷. NaOCl possesses antimicrobial properties against most endodontic pathogens³⁸, being used in concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 6%. From the standpoint of pulp revascularization, more concentrated solutions are preferred, mainly 2.5% and 6%, to obtain clinical success¹⁰. As for chlorhexidine, case reports have used concentrations of 2%15,39 and 0.12%⁴⁰. Despite satisfactory antimicrobial properties, these substances are not biocompatible, limiting the survival of dental pulp stem cells and adherence to dentinal walls⁴¹. In addition to irrigant solutions, chelating agents such as EDTA, citric acid and MTAD may also be used to remove the smear layer. MTAD was recently introduced by Torabinejad et al.⁴², being composed of 3% thiosulfate, 4.25% citric acid and 0.5% polysorbate. Meanwhile, EDTA is the most commonly used chelating agent, also capable of inducing the release of various growth factors incorporated in the human dentin matrix⁴³. Although appearing to be a substance with some promise, it is not known if EDTA could damage the stem cell proliferation process during revascularization⁴⁴.

Taking into consideration the importance of stem cells for both revascularization and regeneration, studies have evaluated cytotoxicity and interference of chemical substances in the adhesion of stem cells⁴¹. NaOCl, CHX, Aquatine Endodontic Cleanser (AquatineEC), Morinda Citrifolia™ (MCJ), Sterile Saline, EDTA and MTAD were evaluated both individually and in combination. It was shown that NaOCl and CHX presented cytotoxic effects, leading to a decrease in dental pulp stem cell adherence to the dentinal walls and, moreover, the presence of a smear layer did not have any influence on this adherence. AquatineEC™ is a new irrigant solution used to irrigate, clean and debride the root canal system⁴¹. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the active component, with biocompatibility and antimicrobial features against most endodontic pathogens^44-45. Compared to NaOCl and CHX, AquatineEC™ was less toxic to dental pulp stem cells and allowed cell adherence to root walls⁴¹. However, further studies should be performed to better understand its properties and possible use in regenerative endodontics.

Intracanal medications

Pulp revascularization is more favorable in a bacteria-free environment⁴⁶, which requires a clean and disinfected root canal system prior to cell colonization. Root canal system infection is composed of multiple species of bacteria, unlikely to allow just one antibiotic to combat these microorganisms in order to create a sterile environment²⁰. Therefore, Hoshino et al.⁴⁷, evaluated single and combined antibiotics against endodontic bacteria. They observed that the association of three antibiotics (Metronidazole, Ciprofloxacin and Minocycline) eliminated bacteria colonizing the dentin surface. In addition, this paste killed bacteria inside deep layers of dentin⁴⁸.

Based on these initial studies, research and case reports related to pulp revascularization started to use antibiotic paste as the gold-standard for intracanal medication, in order to control infection inside root canals, and at the same time allow ingrowth of new tissue to continue root development. Antibiotic paste is composed of 400 mg Metronidazole, 250 mg Ciprofloxacin and 50 mg Minocycline, manipulated in propylene glycol vehicle to achieve a creamy consistency. The paste may be inserted through the use of a Lentulo spiral drill, syringe or manual files (Figure 1). Despite promising results, antibiotic paste may manifest some side effects such as crown discoloration due to the presence of minocycline¹⁶, a semi-synthetic tetracycline effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria²⁰. In an attempt to minimize these undesirable effects, some authors have suggested decreasing the time of the antibacterial dressing to prevent discoloration¹⁶, given that antimicrobial action may last between 24 and 48 hours^47-48. However, it is not known if a shorter period of time in contact with minocycline could prevent discoloration, since after 24 hours, crown discoloration is already visible¹⁶.

The development of microbial resistance represents another relevant factor related to triple antibiotic paste, however to date there is no consensus over this assertion. It is merely speculated that dressing root canals with this paste could decrease the probability of development of resistant bacteria⁴⁹.

Taking into consideration the limitations of this paste, studies have investigated alternatives with antimicrobial properties to disinfect the root canal system⁵⁰. Calcium hydroxide is traditionally used as an intracanal medication in endodontic routines and in cases of apexification⁵¹, due to antimicrobial properties that limit microbial proliferation⁵². Recently, calcium hydroxide has also been tested with pulp revascularization, showing clinical and radiographic success^17,53. Studies have demonstrated that dressing root canals with calcium hydroxide can solubilize bioactive molecules, including growth factors of human dentin matrix that would likely stimulate mesenchymal pulp cells to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells⁴³, also preventing damage to Hertwig's epithelial root sheath cells⁵⁴. On the other hand, one study emphasized that calcium hydroxide could damage the epithelial cell rests of Malassez, supposedly an important structure for cell proliferation¹². Comparing the abovementioned intracanal medications, Bose et al.⁵⁵ showed that both calcium hydroxide and triple antibiotic paste were effective in assisting pulp-dentin complex. These results occurred when calcium hydroxide insertion was limited to the cervical third of the root canal.

Pulp revascularization is generally performed over two clinical sessions. In the first session, root canals are cleaned through copious irrigation with chemical substances, followed by dressing with intracanal medication for three weeks. After this period, a blood clot is induced (Figure 2) and sealed with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and composite resin.

 

 

 

 

 

Although most studies have tended to perform the therapy in two separate sessions, Shin et al.³⁹ performed pulp revascularization in a single visit through root canal decontamination with 6% sodium hypochlorite, sterile saline solution and 2% chlorhexidine, without mechanical instrumentation, followed by MTA/composite resin sealing. The authors demonstrated root-end development and increased width of the dentin walls. A variety of case reports and studies have been published, however, future literature still requires the investigation of disinfection protocols to prevent microbial resistance, and also biomaterials capable of causing the induction of angiogenesis to allow cell nutrition to finally achieve tissue regeneration¹⁵.

Protocols

Revascularization represents a recent and promising topic that has been in evidence due to the preservation of biological principles and the possibility of minimizing the treatment period of immature teeth. Therefore, a great variety of treatment protocols using this therapy exist, in order to achieve the most appropriate path to success.

Table 1 illustrates the diversity of protocols available in the literature. Disinfection substances, the type of intracanal medication (when used), period of time dressing the intracanal medication and coronal sealing were described.

 

 

 

Follow-up

The follow-up of clinical cases of revascularization is mandatory to verify clinical success. A period of approximately 6 months is required, after the treatment, to evaluate success and to identify treatment progress^55-56. The literature reports a follow-up period ranging from months to years with different root development outcomes. Chueh et al.⁵² showed that complete root formation of necrotic, immature teeth associated with periapical lesion was achieved only after a follow-up period of between 10 and 13 months.

According to Chen et al.⁵⁷ immature teeth diagnosed with pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis may present four types of revascularization outcome: Type I, increased dentin wall width and root-end development; Type II, insignificant continued root development associated with apical closure; Type III, root-end development without apical closure; Type IV, calcification (obliteration) of root canal; Type V, mineralized tissue barrier between MTA cervical plug and radicular apex.

 

CONCLUSION

Pulp revascularization represents a recent and promising therapy for immature teeth, recommended as an alternative to apexification in cases of endodontic treatment of irreversible pulpitis and pulp necrosis, whether or not associated with periapical lesion. It is a technically simple treatment with advantageous outcomes because, unlike apexification, it promotes thickness of the dentin wall width and apical closure, avoiding weakening of the tooth. However, considering that it has only recently begun to be applied, little is known about long-term side effects. Further clinical studies with long-term follow-up may contribute to an understanding of the composition and mechanical properties of the mineralization developed in the inner dentinal walls. In addition, the need for endodontic retreatment and intracanal post rehabilitation in revascularized teeth must be planned in order to extend immature tooth longevity and improve future prognosis.

Colaborators

MTP ALBUQUERQUE and JY NAGATA were responsible for the review of the literature, selection of papers, scientific writing and discussion of each topic. AJ SOARES and AA ZAIA were responsible for review, suggestions and the scientific writing.

 

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Correspondence to:
MTP ALBUQUERQUE
e-mail: terezapedrosa@hotmail.com

 

Received on: 27/11/2012
Final version resubmitted on: 21/4/2013
Approved on: 4/6/2013