Radiographic assessment of CBCT-guided autotransplantation of a premolar to the maxillary incisor region: A 2‐year prospective split‐mouth study

Abstract Background: To investigate the 2-year radiographic outcome of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided tooth autotransplantation (TAT) of a premolar to the maxillary incisor region in children. Methods: Eighteen paediatric patients with a missing maxillary incisor were recruited for CBCT-guided premolar transplantation to the maxillary central incisor region (TAT group), neighbouring a healthy contralateral central incisor (control group). Radiological parameters, assessed at 2-year follow-up, included periodontal ligament space (PLS), the outline of lamina dura, the vertical distance between the cementoenamel junction and crestal bone (CEJ-CB), pulp obliteration, radiographic root area (RRA) and length (RRL) and crown-root ratio (CRR). Results: Positive root growth in 89% of the TAT cases, with an average increase in RRA by 27% compared to the control. Pulp obliteration was observed in 83% of the TAT cases (partial: 55.6%; complete: 27.8%). The average crown-to-root ratio was 0.72 and 1.01 for the control and TAT group, respectively. No significant differences existed between TAT and control concerning PLS (p=0.09), lamina dura (p=0.12), and CEJ-CB distance mesially (p=0.17) or distally (p=0.28). Conclusions: CBCT-guided TAT might act as a viable treatment option for rehabilitating missing maxillary (centrally) incisor teeth in paediatric patients when osseointegration may not be the preferred option. (Clinical trial center and ethical board University Hospitals, KU Leuven: S55287; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02464202)