Revascularization after cryopreservation and autotransplantation of immature and mature apicoectomized teeth

Autotransplantation of immature teeth can have a success rate of almost 98% if the tooth is atraumatically transplanted from the donor site to a suitable acceptor site and the extraoral time is kept to a minimum. When the tooth cannot be transplanted immediately, cryopreservation and storage in a tooth bank offer new possibilities for autotransplantation. However, the effect of cryopreservation on the revascularization of transplanted teeth is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine revascularization in immature teeth that have an open apex and in mature teeth that have had the apex cut. The study was carried out on 16 teeth in 2 dogs; 8 teeth were removed and immediately transplanted to the contralateral position and 8 teeth were cryopreserved and transplanted 1 week later. The results show that: (1) teeth can revascularize after autotransplantation if the original pulp tissue is removed at the time of extraction, (2) there is no significant difference in the amount of revascularization between teeth stored in a tooth bank for 7 days and those immediately transplanted without freezing, and (3) there is no difference in the ingrowth of new pulpal tissue between mature apicoectomized teeth and immature teeth.