Effective of clinical and radiological variables in diagnoses of intrusion in permanent teeth

Dental intrusion is considered one of the most severe forms of traumatic dental injuries due to its extensive damage to the dental pulp, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone, making accurate diagnosis essential for proper management and prognosis.This study aimed to identify the main clinical and radiographic signs associated with traumatic dental intrusion in permanent teeth and to evaluate the degree of correlation between these variables and the final diagnosis of dental intrusion, with particular emphasis on the influence of root development status.A clinical study was conducted on 54 patients (41 males and 13 females) aged between 5 and 22 years, who presented with a total of 79 intruded teeth.All cases were emergency presentations.Each patient underwent a comprehensive clinical and radiographic examination.The assessed variables included incisal edge level discrepancy, gingival sulcus bleeding, percussion sound, percussion sensitivity, tooth mobility, and radiographic changes in the periodontal ligament space.The final diagnosis of dental intrusion was established based on the combined assessment of these parameters.Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the association between individual clinical and radiographic findings and the final diagnosis.The findings demonstrated an inconsistent and weak correlation between individual clinical and radiographic variables and the final diagnosis of dental intrusion.While gingival sulcus bleeding was observed in all cases, other commonly used diagnostic indicators-such as metallic percussion sound, percussion sensitivity, tooth mobility, and radiographic obliteration of the periodontal ligament space-showed variable presence and limited diagnostic reliability.Similar trends were observed in teeth with incomplete root formation, with no strong association identified between single diagnostic variables and confirmed intrusion.Clinical and radiographic signs traditionally used in the diagnosis of dental intrusion should be considered supportive rather than definitive diagnostic tools.Reliance on a single clinical or radiographic finding may lead to diagnostic errors.A combined assessment of three or more clinical and/or radiographic parameters is recommended to achieve an accurate diagnosis of traumatic dental intrusion.