Autogenous free tooth transplantation in man by a 2-stage operation technique. A longitudinal intra-individual radiographic assessment.

Insufficient nutrition to the root surface of autotransplanted mature human teeth after transplantation could be an explanation for the high rates of complications such as root resorption and loss of the tooth transplant. Insufficient nutrition is suggested as being due to the distance between the recipient site tissue and the root surface, and the presence of a blood-clot between the tissues. Improved nutrition could be achieved by transplanting into contact with the vascularised connective tissue of a healing wound. To test this hypothesis, a series of human teeth with fully developed roots were autotransplanted to recipient sites prepared and left to heal for 14 days before transplantation. This study is a follow-up of 57 transplants with a minimum observation time of 1 year. Periodic radiographic examinations of the teeth were performed up to 5 years after transplantation. The results presented, showed a lower incidence of root resorption and extractions than previously reported for teeth with fully developed roots.