Extraction and replantation of a periapically infected tooth

At times, an infected tooth that may be deemed unrestorable may be salvaged by atraumatic removal, an in-hand apicoectomy and retrograde seal, then replantation. This patient was referred to this author for an extraction and implant treatment of the maxillary left second premolar. After a discussion, the patient preferred to salvage the tooth if possible. The tooth was successfully atraumatically removed, and an in-hand apicoectomy and retrograde amalgam seal was placed. The tooth was immediately replaced into its socket and was stable. The occlusal surface was flattened to prevent and off axial loading. A bis-acryl brace was applied to the facial and lingual aspect to prevent an overload while the tooth was healing. The patient was admonished to maintain a soft diet. After 3 weeks, the braces were removed, and the tooth was found to be stable. After 8 weeks, the tooth was asymptomatic, and the patient was able to revert to her normal diet without pain. While extraction, placing an apical seal and replantation of teeth is not a new modality; nonetheless, clinicians may need to be reminded of this procedure to increase the number of options presented to patients.