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Background
The epidemic of general injuries is among the most neglected health problems of the 21st century and the importance of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) has attracted little attention. Oral injuries are the fourth most common area of bodily injuries among 7-year-olds to 30-year-olds. 1
Traumatic injury is a distressing experience on the physical level, but it may also have an effect on emotional as well as psychological levels. 2 Moreover, TDI may result in pain, loss of function and could adversely affect developing malocclusion and aesthetics. These situations could have a negative effect on children's lives.
We decided to write this up because upper central incisors are the teeth most frequently affected by trauma due to their position in the mouth, being less protected than others and also it is to bring to the knowledge of the general readers that trauma to the primary teeth will cause a disastrous effect on permanent teeth.
Case presentation
A 10-year-old boy reported to the department with missing upper front teeth ( figure 1 ). A history of trauma was revealed at the age of 14-16 months. The medical history was not significant. However, the family history was not contributory in relation to missing permanent lower central incisors (31,41). On intraoral examination, we found that the upper left central incisor was proclined (21) and drifted upper right lateral incisor (12) at the position of upper right central incisor (11). The child was in his mixed dentition period. Apart from this, we also found that the permanent lower right and left central incisors were congenitally missing. A retained deciduous lower left central incisor (71) was present at their place.
Investigations
An orthopantomogram was taken which showed that a radiopaque tooth-like tissue was present near the apical...