Proliferation of pulpal tissues following early transplantation of developing teeth.

The responses of pulpal tissues were assessed histologically in teeth that had been transplanted as soon as crown formation was completed. The teeth were unerupted at the time of surgery and were transferred to other bony crypts, where attempts were made to reproduce their natural alignment. The pulpal tissues remained viable, although variations occurred in cellularity, vascularity and texture. There was widespread production of intrapulpal bone and osteodentine, and confluence of these tissues with proliferating apical and adjacent bone often resulted in ankylosis. The view was supported that transplanted dental tissues have a strong likelihood of surviving if the procedure is undertaken relatively early during tooth development; however, structural variations and ankylosis may compromise their subsequent value.