Rapid Prototyping as an Adjunct for Autotransplantation of Impacted Teeth in the Esthetic Zone

Autotransplantation of teeth, introduced by Slagsvold and Bjercke more than 40 years ago, is a proven option either for substitution of missing teeth or for replacement of avulsed and traumatized teeth when the original donor teeth are available. In cases of severely impacted teeth, it can avoid the need for complex traction mechanics and the risks of side effects on adjacent teeth while reducing overall treatment time. The procedure requires viable periodontal ligament cells around the tooth to be transplanted. It is also technique-sensitive, necessitating proper preparation of the recipient site, in the exact size and shape of the donor tooth and root, to minimize the time the donor tooth remains outside the oral cavity during surgery.