In children, the permanent incisors that erupt around the age of 7-8 years have not yet fully developed roots, and their root tips are completely exposed (open apex). If these teeth fracture as a result of a fall during this period, and the pulp tissue inside becomes infected and loses its vitality, root development stops. The root canals remain very wide, and the root walls are extremely thin and fragile. In this case, it is impossible to fill the canal with conventional root canal treatment because the filling material protrudes from the root tip. In “apexification” treatment, special biocompatible materials (MTA or calcium hydroxide) are placed inside the root canal, triggering the formation of an artificial or natural hard tissue barrier (closure) at the root tip. After the root tip is closed with this barrier, the root canal treatment is safely completed, and the loss of the tooth is prevented.
