A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication

Background: Primary teeth with subluxation injury carry a low risk of pulp necrosis and are usually overlooked not only by laymen but also by dentists. However, if not monitored or if diagnosis of pulp necrosis in luxated teeth is missed, it may lead to severe and rare complications such as cellulit...

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Main Authors: Hitesh C Mittal, Sunil Yadav
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
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Online Access:https://www.jsaapd.com/doi/JSAAPD/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3342
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author Hitesh C Mittal
Sunil Yadav
author_facet Hitesh C Mittal
Sunil Yadav
author_sort Hitesh C Mittal
collection DOAJ
description Background: Primary teeth with subluxation injury carry a low risk of pulp necrosis and are usually overlooked not only by laymen but also by dentists. However, if not monitored or if diagnosis of pulp necrosis in luxated teeth is missed, it may lead to severe and rare complications such as cellulitis or systemic inflammatory response. This presentation aimed to report the first case of odontogenic infection spreading to the contralateral side with a systemic inflammatory response due to maxillary primary tooth subluxation injury. Case description: A 5-year-old male child with bilateral facial swelling, fever, headache, and chills despite parenteral administration of analgesics and antibiotics was referred by the pediatrician. Clinically, there was diffuse swelling of periorbital regions, no involvement of the cranial nerves, and a discolored maxillary right primary central incisor with associated vestibular abscess. A provisional diagnosis of pulpal infection spreading to the contralateral side with a systemic inflammatory response was made. It was decided to extract the necrotic primary tooth due to the general condition of the child, resulting in complete resolution in 5 days. Conclusion: The simple tooth injuries such as luxation of the primary tooth should not be overlooked and should be monitored regularly. An early diagnosis of facial infections of odontogenic origin by the primary care pediatrician is important as the danger zone infection has the possibility of turning into a life-threatening condition <i>via</i> cavernous sinus involvement.
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series Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
spelling doaj-art-0f7b2c93072c4c7c9165189d868a0c842025-08-20T03:41:47ZengJaypee Brothers Medical PublisherJournal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry2582-10242025-07-018214514810.5005/jp-journals-10077-334214A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare ComplicationHitesh C Mittal0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5610-8171Sunil Yadav1Hitesh C Mittal, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, ESIC Dental College and Hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India, Phone: 8607707755Department of Dentistry, BPS Govt. Medical College for Women, Sonepat, Haryana, IndiaBackground: Primary teeth with subluxation injury carry a low risk of pulp necrosis and are usually overlooked not only by laymen but also by dentists. However, if not monitored or if diagnosis of pulp necrosis in luxated teeth is missed, it may lead to severe and rare complications such as cellulitis or systemic inflammatory response. This presentation aimed to report the first case of odontogenic infection spreading to the contralateral side with a systemic inflammatory response due to maxillary primary tooth subluxation injury. Case description: A 5-year-old male child with bilateral facial swelling, fever, headache, and chills despite parenteral administration of analgesics and antibiotics was referred by the pediatrician. Clinically, there was diffuse swelling of periorbital regions, no involvement of the cranial nerves, and a discolored maxillary right primary central incisor with associated vestibular abscess. A provisional diagnosis of pulpal infection spreading to the contralateral side with a systemic inflammatory response was made. It was decided to extract the necrotic primary tooth due to the general condition of the child, resulting in complete resolution in 5 days. Conclusion: The simple tooth injuries such as luxation of the primary tooth should not be overlooked and should be monitored regularly. An early diagnosis of facial infections of odontogenic origin by the primary care pediatrician is important as the danger zone infection has the possibility of turning into a life-threatening condition <i>via</i> cavernous sinus involvement.https://www.jsaapd.com/doi/JSAAPD/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3342case reportcavernous sinus involvementlife-threatening complicationprimary tooth dental traumasubluxation injurysystematic complications
spellingShingle Hitesh C Mittal
Sunil Yadav
A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication
Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry
case report
cavernous sinus involvement
life-threatening complication
primary tooth dental trauma
subluxation injury
systematic complications
title A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication
title_full A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication
title_fullStr A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication
title_full_unstemmed A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication
title_short A Life-threatening Sequel of Usually Innocuous Subluxation Dental Trauma to Primary Tooth: A Rare Complication
title_sort life threatening sequel of usually innocuous subluxation dental trauma to primary tooth a rare complication
topic case report
cavernous sinus involvement
life-threatening complication
primary tooth dental trauma
subluxation injury
systematic complications
url https://www.jsaapd.com/doi/JSAAPD/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-10077-3342
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AT sunilyadav alifethreateningsequelofusuallyinnocuoussubluxationdentaltraumatoprimarytoothararecomplication
AT hiteshcmittal lifethreateningsequelofusuallyinnocuoussubluxationdentaltraumatoprimarytoothararecomplication
AT sunilyadav lifethreateningsequelofusuallyinnocuoussubluxationdentaltraumatoprimarytoothararecomplication