Aim
This case report demonstrates a positive outcome of the adjuvant use of fragile fracture (FF), which is a technique used to harvest dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) in a mandibular premolar (tooth 44) with a completely formed root that was transplanted into a surgically created socket and which maintained pulp vitality and function.
Summary
After virtual surgical planning, a 3D tooth replica of tooth 44 was fabricated. A surgical socket was created in the position of tooth 14; then, tooth 44 was extracted and the root dentine was abraded using a turbine diamond bur 3 mm from the apex until a circular groove was prepared around the outer circumference of the root; and then, an FF was performed without damaging the pulp tissue. PRP was placed in the socket, after which the donor tooth was inserted in the recipient area. At 2 weeks post‐treatment, orthodontic traction was applied. At 3‐year follow‐up, the tooth had adequate alignment and was asymptomatic. Response to pulp testing was positive, and the presence of pulp canal obliteration was observed as a sign of pulpal healing.
Key learning points
Autotransplantation is a good alternative for replacing missing teeth, with repair of tissues and pulp revascularization.
Revascularization of an autotransplanted mature tooth using the fragile fracture technique and PRP scaffold is a feasible option and might have positive effects on the long‐term outcome of the procedure.
Including completely formed teeth as donors in autotransplantation, maintaining vitality and their functions is an option that warrants further study.