Management of Dentoalveolar Fracture in an Eight-Year-Old Paediatric Patient: A Case Report

Traumatic injuries, which commonly occur in school-going children, usually result from accidents, falls from heights, contact sports, violence and other outdoor sports activities. The most common type of injury considered a dental emergency is dentoalveolar fractures. Fracture of the alveolar process usually involves the facial or lingual plates or both; most of these fractures are accompanied by injuries to teeth; thus, they are referred to as dentoalveolar fractures. Dentoalveolar trauma usually requires intraoral periapical and occlusal images to obtain adequate anatomic detail. Most of the fractures of the alveolar process are open with trauma to the gingiva and the alveolar mucosa. Radiographic examinations of traumatised teeth may demonstrate the extent of injury to the bone (maxilla or mandible) and the tooth, which may involve the root, periodontal ligament, and alveolar process. A tooth that has been concussed, subluxated, or luxated may demonstrate varying degrees of widening of the periodontal ligament space. This case report describes an eight-year-old male patient who presented with a mobile left upper segment with avulsed primary teeth, which followed the management of an anterior maxillary dentoalveolar fracture and uneventful eruption of the maxillary lateral incisor. The novelty in managing the paediatric dentoalveolar fracture using Ivy eyelet wiring lies in combining the standard Ivy loop with functional refinements- notably the extended eyelet for horizontal support, the loop designed for rapid and safe use, and the clovehitch for minimal dentition scenarios. Together, these modifications elevate an already trusted method, tailoring it effectively to the needs of an eight-year-old patient.