Autogenous tooth transplantation: evaluation of pulp tissue regeneration

The aim of this study was to assess the pulp survival that occur in transplants of autologous teeth, by comparing two surgical techniques: the conventional technique (autotransplantation for newly formed alveoli), and an alternative technique, (autotransplants for alveoli in the initial phase of healing). In each surgical techniques were applied, randomly, either saline solution or Emdogain®.

The study group comprised 26 patents, in which 28 teeth were transplanted to recipient sockets prepared mechanically. Of the 28 teeth transplanted, 4 were intentional replants, and of the remainer, 11 had the apex closed and 13 open. The mean age at the time of transplantation was 22.34 ± 8.14 years (mean ± SD). The transplantation were performed by the same operator, with the informed consent of the patient and authorized by the ethical committee of the hospital. Clinical and radiological examinations were performed during 24 to 65 months (48 ± 12.96; MED ± SD), from 10 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and annually to 5.6 years.

Only two transplanted teeth were lost, due persistent apical periodontitis, and one transplanted patient with open apex missed the treatment. In the teeth with pulp, we needed to perform root canal therapy in 9. In the 73% of the teeth with closed apex, we needed to perform root canal treatment, with no statistically significant difference found among closed apex and root canal therapy (p=0.083). In only 8% of the teeth with open apex did we need to perform root canal treatment, with an association between open apex and root canal therapy (p=0.0002). The overall success rate was 98% with significant difference for losses (p=0.0001).

Although not a frequent procedure, it was concluded that autotransplanted teeth, performed with appropriate surgical care had a good prognosis, and can render a very useful service to the patients.