[Induction of jaw bone formation by tooth autotransplantation]

A case-report of segmental underdevelopment of the alveolar process in the upper jaw of an eleven-year old girl is presented. At the site where the alveolar ridge was underdeveloped, two impacted malformed incisors were found. The malformed teeth had almost normal crowns, but the root-development had terminated 1-2 mm beyond the cementoenamel junction. The patient was treated by removal of the two malformed impacted teeth, followed by autotransplantation of the developing second premolar with the intention of inducing bone formation. The result was promising. After 3 years the alveolar process had developed to almost normal vertical hight. Some considerations are made regarding the possible origin of the bone induction factors in tooth buds. The fact that this patient demonstrated an underdevelopment of the alveolar process in spite of the formation of almost normal crowns, is taken as evidence that the bone stimulating principle in tooth buds are not to be found in the enamel organ proper, but must be related to Hertwig's epithelial sheath, root development and tooth eruption.