Autotransplantation of third molars with completely formed roots to replace compromised molars with the computer-aided rapid prototyping.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a method to fabricate donor tooth replica to assist surgeons in preparation of recipient socket during tooth autotransplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 28 compromised molars in 27 patients were transplanted with third molars using computer-aided rapid prototyping (CARP) technique. Surgery time and extra-alveolar time were documented. Postoperatively, the distance between cervix of transplanted tooth and the alveolar wall was measured. The degree of postoperative pain experienced was assessed with visual analog scale at day 1, 3, and 7.

RESULTS

From 28 clinical cases, the average extra-alveolar time and surgery time were 2.5 minutes (±1.3) and 44 minutes (±6.8), respectively. Postoperatively, the average distance between cervix of transplanted tooth and the alveolar wall was 0.87 mm (±0.15) at the mesial-cervix, 0.95 mm (±0.17) at the distal-cervix, 0.88 mm (±0.18) at the buccal-cervix, and 0.95 mm (±0.13) at the lingual-cervix. The value of visual analog scale score significantly decreased from day 1 to day 3.

CONCLUSIONS

CARP is a reliable technique for fabrication of tooth like surgical replicas in conventional autotransplantation.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

CARP technique minimized extra-oral time, reduced iatrogenic damage, and consequently increased the survival rate of tooth autotransplantation.