[Long-term follow-up of tooth transplantation from the functional and periodontal viewpoint]

The outcome of 81 of 99 patients being treated from 1980 to 1993 by transplantation of autologous teeth was investigated. The overall transplant survival rate was 91% after 1 year, 81% after 5 years and 70% after 9 years. The early loss of transplanted teeth was due to healing disorders. The long-term losses were due to caries and replacement resorption. Caries in tooth transplants has to be treated very early, because deep caries or deep drilling leads to an infection of the nutrient canals of the osteodentine. If the pulp chamber of a transplant is once obliterated by osteodentine, endodontic treatment can no longer be performed in many cases. The periodontal condition of the transplants did not differ from that of normal teeth. In 23% there was a decreased tooth mobility, caused by ankylosis of the transplant. 51% of the transplants showed occlusal disturbances but none of the patients had signs of occlusal traumatization of the teeth or of the temporomandibular joint. In comparison to success rates taken from the literature it is pointed out that tooth transplantation has a better long-term prognosis than endodontic treatment. Therefore, in young patients requiring root canal treatment, tooth transplantations should be considered.