Autotransplantation of human teeth. A life-table analysis of prognostic factors.

In a retrospective study of a sample of 291 autotransplantations of human teeth carried out by 27 oral surgeons over a period of 25 years, the clinically and radiologically available factors at the time of surgery were analysed with reference to their prognostic relevance. Prognostically relevant factors related to loss of the transplanted teeth were determined by both univariate life-table analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Of the 11 factors analysed in the Cox regression analysis, the following seemed to be prognostically relevant to loss or retention of the graft: developmental stage of the graft, age of the patient, donor tooth type, ectopia of the donor tooth, extraoral storage of the graft, and oral surgeon. In the present material, the prognosis of the grafts did not seem to be significantly influenced by such factors as prophylactic administration of antibiotics and fixation time. Using relevant parameters, it is possible to create a prognosis forecast for the individual patient. A case with a favourable set of parameters is shown.