Remodelling processes following transplantation of dental germs in dogs.

Dental germs with different amounts of root development were transplanted from the left side to the right side, and vice versa, in young beagle dogs. The unerupted premolars had been taken out by osteotomy. After transplantation, the dental germs were covered with mucosa. The observation period lasted 7 postoperative weeks. Histological examination of the remodelling processes of the bone and tooth-tissue was carried out by polychromatic sequential labelling. All the transplanted dental germs remained vital, and the eruption continued to the normal occlusion level. From this, it follows that eruption of teeth does not depend on root development alone. In some cases, root length growth stopped immediately as a result of transplantation. Either a stumpy apex was formed, or resorption took place. In other cases root growth continued. There was a bend in the root at the point of transplantation, and the subsequently formed root section was shorter and thinner than in normal teeth.