Unusual Indications of Teeth Transplantation: A Literature Review

Abstract

Dental implants are one of the best valid tooth replacement options, though these are not always appropriate in growing young patients. Tooth autotransplantation can be indicated then. However, this is not the only scenario where dental transplantation can be indicated. This comprehensive literature review discusses a wide range of unusual indications of dental transplantation as reported throughout the medical literature. Surprisingly, these indications include management of some developmental dental anomalies, hypodontia, oroantral communications, alveolar clefts, deficient alveolar ridges, ectopic teeth, and maxillofacial injuries. Limited high-quality evidence in this field regarding most of these unusual indications warrants further research of high-quality design.

New Perspectives in Third Molar Auto-Transplantation: Literature Review and a Case Report of Clinical, Financial and Forensic Implications

“…However, as far as dental auto-transplantation research goes, no studies seem to address whether the quality of the initial bone of the recipient site can affect procedural outcomes. Recent evidence points to bone grafts in atrophic alveolar areas as a successful option in the pre-auto-transplantation phase, in addition to auto-transplantation itself, which is indicated in the management of deficient alveolar ridges [ 48 , 49 ]. More generally, remodeling processes (formation and resorption) permanently occur in dental bone tissue and are modulated by bone metabolism [ 50 ].…”

Treatment of Palatally Displaced Canines Using Miniscrews for Direct or Indirect Anchorage: A Three-Dimensional Prospective Cohort Study on Tooth Movement Speed

“…For all of these reasons, the canine-first approach with miniscrews as anchorage was proposed [4][5][6][21][22][23]. The rationale behind this treatment is to avoid any side effects on teeth adjacent to the impacted canine, including root resorption and undesirable tooth movement.…”

“…The second most frequently impacted tooth is the upper canine, considering the third molar as the tooth most frequently associated with impaction [1]. Different therapeutic approaches have been proposed to solve canine impaction, including surgical exposure with or without guided orthodontic eruption [2][3][4][5][6], or other treatment options such as dental autotransplantation. The "canine first" approach could be preferable when side effects such as damage to adjacent teeth should be avoided; Kokick and Mathews already proposed the approach of allowing natural eruption of the impacted cuspid after surgical exposure.…”

Nonextraction Orthodontic Treatment of Severely Impacted Maxillary Canines through Transalveolar Transplantation in a 10-Year-Old Patient: A Case Report with a 6-Year Follow-Up Period

“…In contrast, intra-alveolar transplantation involves repositioning the remaining tooth structure in a more supragingival position within the same socket [6]. Transalveolar transplantation may be indicated for the leveling of severely impacted teeth, managing alveolar cleft, replacing congenitally missing teeth, and closing oroantral communications [7]. The transalveolar transplantation of the impacted maxillary canine may be a viable treatment alternative if surgical exposure and the orthodontic traction of the tooth are not possible due to the severe malposition of the impaction [8].…”