Assessment of an original dental autotransplantation technique: A retrospective study and proposal of a method

Successful tooth autotransplantation (TAT) requires preservation of the periodontal ligament (PDL) on donor teeth and good vascularization of the recipient site to ensure maintenance of alveolar bone volume through physiological stimulation of PDL. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the survival and success rate of a two-step procedure that uses dual periodontal stimulation and a 3D replica of the transplanted tooth to promote ligament repair and prevent ankylosis and root resorption.

All consecutive patients followed at the dental center of Rennes and having undergone a TAT in two surgical stages with double periodontal stimulation and the use of a 3D replica of the transplanted tooth between 2017 and 2022 were invited for follow-up clinical and radiographic examination. First, survival rates were calculated on the basis of a telephone survey. Then, a clinical and radiological follow-up examination was used to calculate the success rate.

Of these 22 transplants, 21 were still functioning, and 1 had been extracted, giving a 95,5% probability of survival after a median follow-up of 23 month. Of the 21 teeth eligible for success analysis, clinical and radiological follow-up showed a success rate of 90,5% with normal PDL and no ankylosis.

The teeth auto-transplanted by this procedure gave a very satisfactory survival and success rate in the medium term. This study suggests that this standardized autotransplantation procedure potentiates PDL healing and may be a viable and predictable treatment in current clinical practice, especially when orthodontic treatment is required. Key words:Tooth autotransplantation, 3D printing, periodontal regeneration, bone regeneration.