Even in cases with atrophy of the alveolar process, a transplantation with subsequent orthodontic treatment represents a promising treatment concept, whereas teeth without subsequent orthodontic treatment showed a lower success rate. Orthodontic tooth movement had no negative effect on the healing rates of transplanted developing third molars.
The transplantation of developing third molars should be given stronger consideration in treatment plans for orthodontic space management although it represents a real alternative to orthodontic space closure only in exceptional cases. However, unlike implantological or prosthodontic treatment, it offers an opportunity to replace a missing or non-retainable tooth with a patient's own vital and fully functional tooth, provided the appropriate transplant is selected.
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