Indications for the use of auto-transplantation of teeth in the child and adolescent

BACKGROUND: Tooth auto-transplantation has been successfully performed for over 50 years and yet the procedure has still to receive the widespread acceptance that it deserves. AIM: This study demonstrates the numerous clinical situations in which auto-transplantation can be used in order to give a child or adolescent an excellent biological long-term replacement. INDICATIONS: Seven cases are presented that demonstrated the versatility of auto-transplantation in a range of clinical situations. The aim was to show that this technique is not only useful for replacing teeth that are lost due to trauma but has applications for the replacement of teeth that are developmentally missing, or teeth with otherwise poor long-term prognosis. TREATMENT: All cases presented were managed with autotransplatation and included patients with hypodontia, trauma, dilacerated incisors, ankylosis, failed endodontic treatment and aesthetic management of a patient with cleft lip and palate. FOLLOW-UP: Medium and long-term outcomes were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Auto-transplantation provides an excellent outcome in a growing child with the advantage that it is a biologically compatible method of tooth replacement, which promotes pulp and periodontal healing and enables orthodontic movement if necessary.