Tooth allografts in children matched for HLA.

Ninety allogeneic transplants of partially developed teeth were performed in children matched for HLA antigens. Significantly better results were obtained in the group of 74 cases where 0 to 2 incompatibilities between donor and recipient were present, in comparison to 16 cases where donors differed from the recipients in 3 or 4 antigens. It is concluded that HLA match gives a clinically relevant benefit to the tooth graft recipient. The peculiarities of tooth transplantation and the difficulties with the evaluation of tooth graft survival are discussed in detail.