Survival and success of autotransplanted impacted maxillary canines during short-term follow-up: A prospective case-control study

OBJECTIVES: This prospective clinical trial aimed to examine the predictability of maxillary canine transplantation as compared to biological canine eruption. Additional objectives were to examine hard and soft tissue outcomes, including aesthetic outcome compared to outcomes with the contralateral canines. SETTINGS AND SAMPLE POPULATION: The sample comprised 17 consecutively transplanted maxillary canines in 17 patients (mean age at surgery, 18 years; range, 11-29 years). Minimal follow-up time was 12 months post-transplantation. Clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded for the transplanted and contralateral canines, showing a natural eruption pattern. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Maxillary Canine Aesthetic Index (MCAI) and the Autotransplanted Maxillary Canine Radiological Index (AMCRI) were scored for all upper canines. Successful transplantation was considered as the absence of pathology during intermittent clinical and radiographic controls and a good-to-excellent outcome compared to the contralateral biological erupted canine, as defined by the MCAI and AMCRI. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 28 months (±9; range, 12-40 months). The overall survival rate was 100%, and the success rate reached 68% at 1 year post-operatively. Significant predictors of success were the extra-oral time during transplantation, amount of damage to the root surface, quality of surrounding tissues and immediate post-operative oral hygiene. CONCLUSION: Standardized measurements demonstrated clinically satisfactory outcomes with maxillary canine autotransplantation compared to outcomes with the contralateral canine during 1-3 years of follow-up. The potential predictors of success identified here should be confirmed with long-term follow-up studies.