Use of hard stainless steel “office” pin as improvised post in the management of Ellis class III fracture of anterior teeth in a resource poor and challenging environment: Case reports

Abstract

Objective: Traumatic dental injury is considered as the damage to the teeth and/or other hard and soft tissues within and around the oral cavity caused by the collision of the individual with a moving or stationary object. Traumatic dental injury to the anterior teeth can result in varying degree of injuries ranging from various types of fracture of teeth to avulsed teeth. Ellis class III fracture of anterior teeth following trauma, is a common presentation to the dental clinic and may result in pain and discomfort, aesthetic challenge and impaired quality of life. The treatment of Ellis class III fracture of anterior teeth involves a combination of treatment of the pulp injury and the un-aesthetic crown fracture, usually by endodontic treatment and Aesthetic Restorative Materials (ARM). This article reviewed the use of ARM in the management of Ellis class III fracture of anterior teeth and reported our experience in Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria on Ellis class III fracture of anterior teeth managed with hard stainless steel “office” pin retained composite restoration.

Results: Composite restoration retained with hard stainless steel pin meets the patients’ expectations of aesthetics; strength and retention of restorative material after the fractured teeth have been treated with RCT.

Conclusion: Hard stainless steel “office” pin retained composite restoration facilitates the retention of the aesthetic material (composite) which results in morale boost, improved patients’ comfort and improved quality of life of patients. Authors hereby suggest the use of hard stainless steel "office" pin as an acceptable improvised post in a resource poor environment rather than risk failure of restoration.