Autogenous transplantation is an economical as well as the most sorted option for the treatment of badly destroyed teeth when a suitable donor tooth is available. This paper presents successful auto transplantation of a mature mandibular right third molar (48) without anatomical variance is used to replace a grossly decayed mandibular right first molar (46). The mandibular first molar was nonrestorable due to extensive root caries. After extraction of mandibular first molar, root canal therapy was done for the third molar extraorally, and the tooth was reimplanted into the recipient site. After 1.8 years, clinical and radiographic examination revealed satisfactory outcome with no signs or symptoms suggestive of pathology. In selected cases, autogenous tooth transplantation, even after complete root formation of the donor tooth, may be considered as a practical treatment alternative to conventional prosthetic rehabilitation or implant treatment.
IntroductionAuto transplantation of teeth has been done for many years but with varying degrees of success. It is considered as an alternative treatment for a single tooth oral rehabilitation and it is possible that it becomes more frequent if the technique respects the protocol to be followed. Auto transplantation is defined as the transplantation of embedded, impacted or erupted teeth from one site into the extraction sites or surgically prepared sockets in the same person [1]. Auto transplantation of tooth ensures maintenance of alveolar bone volume by physiological stimulation of the periodontal ligament (PDL). Recently, auto transplantation has begun to gain attention again, most likely because of the research on PDL healing after auto transplantation has provided helpful information that can be applied to the procedure [2,3]. Transplantation has a key role in the replacement of young patients missing teeth [4]. Osseointegrated implants are generally contraindicated for young patients with developing alveolar bone because infraocclusion results when the implant fails to form alveolar bone. Since the procedure causes bone and dental implant material to be fused together, the implant does not erupt along with the adjacent teeth, so the placement of dental implants may be avoided in young adolescent patients. Because of this tooth auto transplantation, which maintains the PDL, will continue to be a suitable and attractive option in many cases for replacing missing units [5]. Successful tooth transplantation offers improved esthetics, arch form and dentofacial development, mastication, speech and arch integrity. A transplanted third molar also maintains a natural space, with little or no root resorption [6], alveolar bone volume 4, 7 and the morphology of the alveolar ridge through proprioceptive stimulation [4][5][6][7][8]. The outcome of this procedure depends on careful case selection and understanding of the biological principles. Teeth traditionally selected for this procedure are impacted maxillary canines that play an important role in dentofacial esthetic...