Tooth transplantation with the periodontium intact: a histometric analysis

A method was devised, from a pilot study, for transplanting a root-treated tooth with an intact periodontium into a newly prepared socket to assess whether the prognosis for transplantation procedures could be improved. Five male vervet monkeys were used for the definitive study. The mandibular central incisors were extracted from each monkey and the sockets were allowed to heal for 5 weeks. Thereafter a window of gingiva overlying each of these healed receptor sites was removed and the sockets were prepared with tapered burs. The distal root of the mandibular second molar was used as the transplant tooth and the distal root of the first molar as the control tooth. The transplant tooth was removed, together with surrounding alveolar bone which was then trimmed to a thickness of approximately 1 mm. The control tooth was extracted with root forceps. After transplantation, the teeth were splinted to the adjacent incisors for 3 weeks. After 8 weeks the healing process was examined histologically, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Replacement resorption (ankylosis) was not observed. Student's t test for paired samples revealed that the incidence of secondary cementum formation was significantly greater on the control teeth. The minimization of trauma may be the reason ankylosis did not occur.