Tooth transplantation

What is a tooth transplantation?

Losing a tooth is always associated with many unpleasant problems, whether due to trauma, cavities, or inflammation. Not only can aesthetics be affected, but speech and chewing functions can also be impaired. In childhood, this can even impact the development of the jaw in the affected area. This is because where there is no need for bone, it does not continue to develop. Affected individuals often feel that their quality of life is significantly diminished.

Dental prostheses and dental implants can help in many cases. The defect is repaired with foreign material, although this is usually expensive. The durability is limited, although it can last for several years. The time until the dental replacement is completed is also usually long.

The method of tooth transplantation, which is not widely known, is used in certain cases. In this procedure, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon removes the patient's own tooth (autologous) and places it into the tooth gap. This works particularly well with tooth germs, which are not yet fully developed teeth. No foreign dental material is used in this process.

What are the indications for tooth transplantation?

There are certain requirements for tooth transplantation. Tooth transplantation cannot be performed in all cases. In your particular case, simply contact a trusted oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Wisdom teeth (3rd molars), premolars and deciduous canines can be used.

A tooth that is still growing, i.e. has no fully grown roots, is ideal. This allows the tooth to continue growing and integrate into the jawbone (mandible) eventually gaining sensitivity.

Molars or incisors that can no longer be preserved (particularly in adolescence) because of trauma, caries, periodontitis (gum inflammation) or other dental inflammations can be replaced. Autologous tooth transplantation is also possible for tooth gaps due to missing teeth.

In adolescence, developing teeth (without a fully grown root) can also be implanted in the growing jaw. The contact between jaw and tooth allows the jawbone and tooth root to continue to grow.

If the tooth growth is complete, additional treatment, such as endodontic treatment (a root canal), is required to carry out the tooth transplantation.

How does the treatment work?

Before starting treatment, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon checks whether all the requirements for a tooth transplant are fulfilled. To do this, the tooth gap is measured, and x-rays are taken.

Tooth transplantation is usually carried out in one session. Following antibiotics and local anesthesia, the tooth to be grafted is exposed. If the tooth is already fully grown, endodontic treatment is carried out. As the tooth nerve and pulp cannot be preserved, the root canal must be filled with bone cement. Until the implantation takes place, the tooth is stored in the patient's serum (the watery part of the blood). The damaged tooth is then removed, and the periodontium is prepared.

After the oral surgeon has inserted the new tooth, it is lightly implanted. This serves to stabilize the tooth transplant for the duration of the healing process.

If the periodontium is inflamed, the tooth transplant is only carried out in a second operation after the inflammation has subsided.

Following the tooth transplantation, any necessary coloring or veneering of the tooth can be started after a certain amount of time.

Once the juvenile tooth has healed, orthodontic treatment (i.e. braces to correct misalignment) of the transplanted tooth is also possible.

What is the prognosis and the course of disease following a tooth transplantation?

The prognosis depends on various factors. These include a vascularized periodontium and an intact tooth root. Infections and stress during the healing phase may even lead to the loss of the tooth.

Where teeth that are not yet fully grown have been transplanted, the chances are good that the pulp will regenerate after some time. After about eight weeks, the tooth may already be sensitive.

The 5-year tooth survival rate for a juvenile tooth (with incomplete growth of the tooth root) is around 90%, or 82% with a fully grown tooth root.

Follow-up check-ups are carried out at specific intervals. This includes x-rays to check bony healing and, if necessary, the growth of the root. If the dental pulp begins to fill up again, this is considered a good sign.

Tooth transplantation is both a high quality and cost-effective procedure, which can unfortunately only be used in certain cases.

If you have any further questions about the possibilities of tooth transplantation, please contact your oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Which doctors and clinics specialize in tooth transplantations?

Anyone in need of a doctor would expect the best possible medical care for themselves. Therefore, patients are looking for the most suitable clinic for their needs. Since this is not an objective decision and a respectable doctor would refrain from claiming to be the best, patients must trust the experience of a doctor.

We can help you find an appropriate expert for your condition. All the doctors and clinics listed have undergone extensive review and have been verified by us for their outstanding expertise in tooth transplantations. They are looking forward to and are ready to address your questions and treatment requests.