Progress in restorative treatments of primary incisor defects

Dental caries and trauma are the most common oral diseases in children, which could result in defects of the teeth or detention. Maintenance of the primary dentition in a nonpathologic condition is important for oral health, craniofacial development, and the overall well-being of the children. In contemporary dentistry, primary anterior teeth defects are mainly treated with drugs, restorative treatments, or both. Restorative treatment is the most preferred method and includes direct restoration, full coronal restoration, post-and-core crowns, etc. This article reviews the available information regarding a variety of restorative treatments for primary incisor defects, including their backgrounds, clinical indications, clinical pathways, and related studies. The literature review shows that intraconal direct restoration is widely used on single surfaces. There are many kinds of full coronal restorations, and each has its own advantages. Pediatric resin-bonded strip crowns and zirconia crowns are the most popular and have excellent aesthetics. The use of post-and-core crowns for primary incisors is controversial. The absorbable post may be the next research hotspot. Therefore, treatment of severely destroyed primary incisors poses a challenge for pediatric dentists, as three important considerations must be kept in mind: children′s behavioral management, preservation of the tooth structure and parental satisfaction.