Original Article
Revascularization after cryopreservation and autotransplantation of immature and mature apicoectomized teeth*,**

https://doi.org/10.1067/mod.2001.113259Get rights and content

Abstract

Autotransplantation of immature teeth can have a success rate of almost 98% if the tooth is atraumatically transplanted from the donor site to a suitable acceptor site and the extraoral time is kept to a minimum. When the tooth cannot be transplanted immediately, cryopreservation and storage in a tooth bank offer new possibilities for autotransplantation. However, the effect of cryopreservation on the revascularization of transplanted teeth is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine revascularization in immature teeth that have an open apex and in mature teeth that have had the apex cut. The study was carried out on 16 teeth in 2 dogs; 8 teeth were removed and immediately transplanted to the contralateral position and 8 teeth were cryopreserved and transplanted 1 week later. The results show that: (1) teeth can revascularize after autotransplantation if the original pulp tissue is removed at the time of extraction, (2) there is no significant difference in the amount of revascularization between teeth stored in a tooth bank for 7 days and those immediately transplanted without freezing, and (3) there is no difference in the ingrowth of new pulpal tissue between mature apicoectomized teeth and immature teeth. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2001;119:346-52)

Section snippets

Material

The experimental material consisted of 16 single-rooted teeth, (incisors and first premolars) from 2 dogs of the same breed. The dogs were purebred and were 4 months 7 days old at the start of the experiment. Root development was complete in 12 teeth; 4 teeth had an open apex.15, 16, 17, 18

At the time of extraction, the pulp tissue was removed from the apical side of each tooth with the use of a nervebroche (Fig 1).

. Removal of the pulpal tissue with the use of a nervebroche.

An apicoectomy was

Results

The effect of 4 variables will be described: time, amount of revascularization, cryopreservation versus direct transplantation, and apicoectomy (Figs 3-5).

. Ingrowth of blood vessels in different experimental situations. 3.2, 4.2, 2.2, 1.2, 1.5, 2.5, FDI tooth number; CRYO, tooth stored in toothbank for 7 days; TRP, transplantation to contralateral side; dpt, number of days in posttransplantation (observation period).

. Schematic representation of revascularization in dog 1.

. Schematic representation

Discussion

Previous research has shown that the pulp tissue of replanted or autotransplanted teeth with partly formed roots becomes necrotic after the operation, and that revascularization occurs through the ingrowth of new, well-vascularized, cell-rich connective tissue.11, 12 Research by Skoglund and Tronstad,13, 14 showed that mature teeth with closed apexes also revascularize after autotransplantation when their root tips are cut, which enables the ingrowth of new blood vessels.

Until now, it has been

Conclusions

From this study, the following conclusions can be made:

  • Teeth can revascularize after autotransplantation if the original pulp tissue is removed at the moment of extraction.

  • There is no significant difference in the amount of revascularization between teeth stored in a tooth bank for 7 days and those immediately transplanted without freezing.

  • There is no difference in the ingrowth of new pulpal tissue between mature apicoectomized teeth and immature teeth.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Mrs B. Jouret for typing the manuscript, Mr G. Dermout for the illustration, Dr B. De Smet, the director of the animal lab, and Dr I. De Cock for anesthetizing the animals.

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    Also, apicoectomized mature teeth with complete root development can be used. After apicoectomy, the teeth have an open apex and can be transplanted immediately at any age, keeping the possibility of revascularization (6–10, 15). By using mature apicoectomized teeth, the technique of tooth transplantation becomes less age-related.

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  • Pulpal regeneration and root development after subcutaneous transplantation of cryopreserved immature teeth in rats

    2012, Cryobiology
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    After some time, tissue resembling bone or cementum occupied most of the pulp cavity which finally lead to obliteration. Laureys et al. [27] stated that the necrotic mass in the pulpal tissue after autotransplantation could be a stimulating factor in the repair process, because it was seen in their dog study that teeth with the pulpal tissues left in situ at the moment of transplantation showed more ingrowth of vital tissues compared to teeth transplanted with empty pulp chambers. The pulpal response to transplantation of the cryopreserved and control teeth could largely be divided into three different types: cementum-, bone- and dentin-like tissue formation.

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*

Reprint requests to: W. Laureys, Tandheelkunde, afd, Orthodontie, UZ - De Pintelaan 185 - P8, B - 9000 Gent, Belgium.

**

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2001;119:346-52

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