Autotransplantation of a Premolar with Incipient Root Development, an 18-Year Follow-Up

In young patients, premature tooth loss in the anterior maxilla after trauma is challenging for the patient and the dental professional, with serious implications from aesthetic and functional points of view, as well as from a craniofacial growth aspect perspective. Premolars autotransplanted into the maxillary anterior region have been shown to be a biological alternative in this situation. This report describes the clinical management of a case of premature loss of a maxillary central incisor after traumatic injury. A mandibular premolar at the stage of initial root development was transplanted into the alveolar socket of the lost incisor. After 18 years, the transplanted tooth remained responsive to pulp sensibility tests and the periradicular bone and soft tissues were within normal limits. Autotransplantation of premolar teeth into the maxilla could be considered an excellent treatment choice with many biological advantages over implants or fixed dentures as long as proper case selection is followed.