Replantation of avulsed permanent teeth with avital periodontal ligaments: case report

Five maxillary anterior teeth lost during a grand mal epileptic seizure, were replanted using the technique recently described by Andreasen (1), after an extra-alveolar period of more than 72 h. The teeth were replanted surgically, 10 days after being avulsed, after they had been immersed in a 2.4% sodium fluoride solution and root filled with gutta-percha. Ankylosis was evident 3 months post-operatively. After 24 months there was evidence of considerable replacement resorption on the lateral incisors with little evidence of resorption on the other replanted teeth. Even though the long term prognosis is uncertain, this technique has an advantage of seeing the patient through the period of growth as well as maintaining the height of alveolar bone making possible the provision of an aesthetically acceptable prosthesis at a later age.