Socioeconomic burden of replantation of avulsed permanent maxillary incisors of children and adolescents

This study describes the socioeconomic burden on children (and their families) whose avulsed permanent maxillary incisors were replanted. Complete records for a minimum of one year were obtained for 43 patients (60 replanted incisors) treated at The Hospital for Sick Children from 1988 to 1999. Mean age at time of injury was 10.6 years (range = 6.6–17.7). First-year mean treatment provided included 5.5 diagnostic periapical radiographs, 1.3 pulpectomies, and 2.7 pulp medication applications. First year mean treatment cost (1465 CAD) and direct time (7.2 hours) was estimated. Survey of 21 patient-parent pairs demonstrated that the drive to request replantation is very strong in both parents and children in that a majority of patients (67%) and parents (81%) stated they would have still made the same replantation decision. This study describes the burden of the decision to replant on both children and their families and increases information for consent purposes.