Experimental transplantation of teeth to simulated maxillary alveolar clefts

A total of 14 teeth were transplanted to simulated alveolar clefts in 5 monkeys. Autogenous cancellous bone was grafted to the cleft together with the tooth in ten instances. Healing processes were observed 216 or 271 days postoperatively. Another group of four teeth were transplanted in the cleft areas 133 days after bone grafting. These teeth were observed for 138 days before sacrifice. Radiological and histological findings support previous reports on adverse effects to dental tissues when placed in direct contact with fresh transplanted bone. Root resorption and ankylosis occurred to a large extent. Establishment of a normal periodontal membrane could, however, be observed when the tooth was transplanted to an area grafted 4 months previously. An interval before tooth transplantation allowing the cancellous graft to organize and bone to remodel seems to be indicated.