Purpose: To evaluate the treatment effect of topical doxycycline on avulsed permanent teeth compared with normal saline.
Methods: A total of 44 avulsed teeth from 38 patients (22 boys and 16 girls, aged 7-14 years) were recruited. Twenty-one teeth in group A were treated with doxycycline for 5 min before replantation while 23 teeth in group B were treated with saline solution. All participants were followed up for at least 12 months. The clinical outcome differences between 2 groups was evaluated by Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: In group A, 18 teeth were found pulp necrosis, 3 with infection-related resorption, 13 with ankylosis-related resorption and 6 were extracted. In group B, 16 were diagnosed with pulp necrosis, 4 with infection-related resorption, 12 with ankylosis-related resorption and 7 were extracted. No significant differences were found between the two groups on pulp survival and periodontal healing.
Conclusions: Compared with treatment with normal saline, avulsed permanent teeth treated with doxycycline did not show a better clinical outcome.