Metal tooth-like surgical templates for tooth autotransplantation in adolescents

Objectives: The aim of this study was to suggest a way to fabricate surgical templates to assist the surgeon in preparing the recipient socket when performing premolar autotransplantation. Methods: Premolars used previously for extractions of periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts were used in this study as archetype of models for tooth transplantation. Eighty-four mandibular and maxillary first and second extracted premolars were reviewed. All teeth were extracted for orthodontic reasons. From these teeth, eight teeth were selected to serve as archetype of models in which all the other teeth were at equal size or smaller in maximum 2 mm in M-D or B-L dimension. These teeth were sent to dental technician to perform identical archetype stainless steel templates. During autotransplantation immediately following donor tooth extraction, the appropriate template is chosen out of the toothlike stainless steel surgical templates and the donor tooth is then immediately replaced in its socket. This enables the surgeon to prepare the recipient site without manipulating the donor tooth and thus preventing damage to the PDL cells of the donor tooth. Only after the recipient site had been prepared to the appropriate size and shape according to the template, the donor tooth is removed from its socket, immediately placed at the recipient site and splinted as recommended. Conclusions: The advantage of the presented metal tooth-like surgical templates described in this study is that a set of stents has been produced by replicating different common shape adolescent premolars that reflect the biological variation in size and shape of these teeth.