[Autotransplants instead of implants? The secret of the periodontal ligament]

Autotransplants are often applied in the Scandinavian countries. The indication for treatment concerns especially young patients for whom teeth with open apices are moved to areas with ageneses. The great advantage is the vital periodontal ligament, by means of which these teeth are able to grow along. In Rotterdam, during the past 11 years, transplants of teeth with fully developed apices have been carried out in cases with comparable indications. Over short and long periods of time, the results have been the same as those in the published findings in the literature. The fully developed apices appear to be just as successful as the open apices. The difference with the results in the research literature concerns the indications for transplantation in particular. These are not limited to the molar region. Within the same indication, the results are better by comparison with the implants, in both the transplants with open and with closed apices. On the basis of these results, autotransplants in dentistry have become an indication for every age group and when possible, a better treatment option than implants.