Oral Restoration With Fixed Partial Dentures on Transplanted Abutment Teeth

Thirty five fully developed teeth were autogenously transplanted for 24 partially edentulous adult patients to enable the placement of fixed partial dentures. Restoration was successfully carried out on 22 patients during the follow-up period up to 13 years after surgery. Two restorations failed, one because of root fracture and another as a result of ankylosis of the transplanted tooth. Six transplanted abutment teeth showed root resorption and/or loss of attachment without consequence for the dental restoration. The proportion of successful tooth transplantations was 97% after 1 year, 94% after 2 years and 88% from 6 to 13 years. Transplantation of teeth using a two-stage surgical technique could provide the necessary dental support for fixed partial dentures even for patients with atrophic alveolar bone.