Complete Root Formation Research Articles

Autogenic Molar Transplantation of Third Molar with Complete Root Formation Versus Incomplete Root Formation: A Prospective Clinical Study.

The aim of the study was to assess and compare the efficacy of autotransplantation of molars with complete and incomplete root formation, by checking the viability of the procedure to replace non-restorable molar teeth in the extraction sockets. Twenty patients with non-restorable molars were included in this study. They were divided into two groups with complete and incomplete root-formed third molars, which needed to be transplanted in place of non-restorable molars. A routine surgical procedure was performed to remove infected molars. Atraumatic removal of the third molar was performed and reimplanted in the socket of previously extracted infected molars. Results were evaluated based on clinical observation and radiographic analysis of the transplanted tooth. Out of 20 transplants, one transplant, despite good initial stability, was extracted after one month because of abnormal horizontal and axial mobility; this was the single failure case (5%). Of the rest, 19/20 (95%) transplants were followed up for 6 months and showed no failure. This study clearly indicated that the benefits of autotransplantation over other treatment options are numerous, and the results are not affected by whether the root of the transplanted tooth is complete or incompletely formed.

Regenerative Endodontic Treatments for Immature Devital Permanent Molar Teeth: Four Case Reports

Objective: To apply regenerative endodontic treatment to immature permanent molar teeth devitalised due to dental caries and to follow the clinical and radiographic outcomes. Cases: Four patients presented to our university with complaints of pain. Radiological evaluations revealed profound dentinal caries, apical lesions, and open root tips. Clinical examinations yielded negative results on the electric pulp test (EPT) for all four teeth. Given the presence of immature necrotic teeth, the treatment for these cases was planned as regenerative endodontic treatment. This treatment was administered under local anaesthesia, following the protocol recommended by the American Endodontic Association. Results: Over a follow-up period of 10 to 15 months, certain patients exhibited a reduction in periapical lesions and completion of root formation. However, root development persisted in other patients. Conclusion: Follow-up and observations indicate that regenerative endodontic treatment is an effective alternative for the management of immature permanent molar teeth.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Aid in the Management of Apical Root Resorption of Impacted Maxillary Canines and Physiologically Erupted Maxillary Canines after Orthodontic Treatment

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of orthodontic traction, by means of light and controlled forces, on root length in impacted maxillary canines and physiologically erupted maxillary canines. Disinclusion of impacted maxillary canines is a frequent procedure in orthodontics due to their higher incidence of impaction. The effects of orthodontic traction, by means of light and controlled forces, can lead to a resorption of the root length in impacted and physiologically erupted teeth. Therefore, apical root resorption is a common phenomenon that must be taken into consideration. Apical root resorption measurements were taken using pre-treatment CBCTs and pre-treatment and post-treatment digital panoramic radiographs of 52 patients who underwent fixed-appliance treatment by using light and controlled orthodontic forces. The experimental group consisted of 26 patients with one impacted maxillary canine. The control group consisted of 26 patients without any impaction. Apical root resorption was calculated from root lengths before and after orthodontic treatment. In the experimental group, impacted canines with incomplete apical formation underwent root elongation, while impacted canines with completed root formation went through apical root resorption. The latter showed a slightly greater apical root resorption (0.2 mm) compared to the control group (95% confidence interval; p = 0.04). The extent of root resorption of impacted canines was significantly higher than that of physiologically erupted ones. However, this differential resorption did not compromise the structural and functional integrity of the involved teeth. The orthodontic treatment performed with light and controlled forces is, therefore, a procedure to be considered acceptable and safe.

Evaluation of dental manifestations in X-linked hypophosphatemia using orthopantomography.

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common inherited form of rickets. The presence of sequence variations in the phosphate regulating endopeptidase homolog X-linked (PHEX) gene is associated with increased production of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). This results in renal phosphate wasting and impaired skeletal mineralization. Spontaneous dental abscesses, caused by endodontic infections resulting from hypomineralization of dentin, are a known dental complication of XLH. There is no objective method to evaluate the severity of dentin dysplasia. The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative method to evaluate dentin dysplasia using orthopantomography that would allow the values in patients with XLH to be compared with the values in healthy participants of the same age. The severity of dentin dysplasia was analyzed by measuring the pulp cavity area of the tooth using orthopantomographic images. The teeth analyzed were mandibular second primary molars and mandibular first permanent molars with complete root formation. Teeth with dental caries, restorations, or root resorption were excluded. This retrospective observational study included a total of 200 images of healthy participants (aged 2-15 years) divided into five age groups and 42 images of 17 patients with XLH. There was a significant tendency for the pulp cavity area to decrease with increasing age in primary and permanent teeth. The pulp chambers of patients with XLH were larger than those of healthy participants in primary and permanent teeth. We have established a method of using orthopantomography for quantitative assessment of dentin dysplasia in XLH from the primary dentition to the permanent dentition. Evaluating the severity of dentin hypomineralization by this method is useful in the diagnosis of the dental manifestations of XLH. Early diagnosis of XLH enables oral management and leads to prevention of dental abscesses.

The capability of regenerative endodontics to promote the complete root formation in immature permanent teeth with different initial pre-operative conditions.

To describe the potential possibility of complete root formation after regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) in immature permanent teeth with different initial pre-operative conditions. Children who underwent REPs in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China, from January 2013 to December 2022 were enrolled. Whether the tooth achieved complete root formation was determined using post-operative periapical radiography. The potential possibility of complete root formation after REPs in immature permanent teeth with different initial conditions is discussed. A total of 428 teeth from 401 patients were included, of which 258 (60.2%) achieved complete root formation. In cases that achieved complete root formation, the most serious type of trauma was avulsion, the teeth with the worst initial root development were less than one-third of the development (stages 6-7), and the longest duration of the presence of apical lesions in the tooth before the first visit was more than 180days. There is a significant difference in the root formation of teeth with different initial developmental stages and diagnoses. The active period of continued root formation was 5-21months post-operatively. The higher the initial stage of root development and the shorter the duration of the presence of apical lesions in the tooth before the first visit, the greater the possibility of root formation. However, complete root formation may still be expected after REPs in severely injured immature permanent teeth and teeth with poor initial pre-operative root development conditions (less than stage 7) at the first visit. This is also true for teeth with long-term and large-scale apical lesions.

Validation of a Cox prognostic model for tooth autotransplantation.

This study aimed to validate our Cox proportional hazards prognostic model for autotransplantation of teeth with complete root formation using prognostic index (PI) and determine whether the prognosis can be predicted. The Protocol group, as a training data set for validation, consisted of 259 autotransplanted teeth to create a PI using the Cox model, as described previously. The Pre-protocol group, as the first validation data set, consisted of 95 autotransplanted teeth treated without a protocol. The Post-protocol group, as the second validation data set, consisted of 61 autotransplanted teeth obtained after the establishment of the prognostic model. Because four prognostic factors, including history of root canal treatment (yes), number of roots (multirooted), source of donor tooth (maxillary tooth), and duration of edentulism (≥2.5 months), were selected as a Cox prognostic model, 16 patterns of PI were constructed. First, the autotransplantated teeth in the Protocol group were divided into low- and high-risk groups respectively according to the median of PI as the cutoff value. The survival curves of low- and high-risk groups were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and tested using the log-rank test. Then, in the Pre- and Post-protocol groups, all transplanted teeth were divided into low-and high-risk teeth by the median of PI and the survival curves of low- and high- risk teeth were analyzed statistically in a similar manner. The survival curves of the low- and high-risk groups diverged significantly in the Protocol and Post-protocol groups. In the Pre-protocol group, the curves of the low- and high-risk groups were separated, and the low-risk survival rate was improved. Our Cox prognostic model for autotransplantation of teeth with complete root formation was useful in predicting the prognosis by external validation using PI.

Comparing the prevalence of impacted teeth through radiographic evidence among orthodontic and general populations: A secondary data analysis

IntroductionThere is noticeable variability in reporting the prevalence of impacted teeth, which can be attributed to the variability in the age, gender, and type of populations investigated. Materials and MethodsPanoramic radiographs were examined retrospectively for patients who attended dental clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City and the College of Dentistry at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The sampling frame for the orthodontic population included digital records of 2998 patientsrandomly selected from an original 8000 patients treated from 2016 to 2022 in the orthodontic clinic. For the general population, 3002 patients were randomly selected from an original15000 patients treated at the dental college from 2016 to 2022. A tooth was considered impacted if it failed to erupt after two years of the expected complete root formation. ResultsThe prevalence of at least a single impacted tooth was higher in the orthodontic population (13.2 %) than in the general population (11.2 %). However, this difference was not statistically significant, p = 0.103. The orthodontic population had a significantly higher prevalence of impacted #13, #11,#23,#25. In contrast, the general population had a significantly higher prevalence of all third molars impaction (p < 0.005). ConclusionAlthough the prevalence of at least a single tooth impaction between the orthodontic and general populations was not significantly different, the type of teeth differs. Hence, understanding the type of population investigated while reporting the prevalence of impacted teeth is critical in understanding the variability between different reports.

The prevalence of pulp stones in a Turkish paediatric cohort from the Isparta district: an 8-year retrospective radiographic study.

To evaluate the prevalence of pulp stones in a Turkish paediatric cohort from the Isparta district using panoramic radiographs. Panoramic radiographs of 19,857 children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 18years were retrospectively analysed to determine the prevalence and distribution of pulp stones. Teeth with pulp stones were classified in terms of dentition, location, dental status and complete or incomplete root formation. Statistical analysis was carried out by applying Chi‑square and Mann-Whitney U. Univariate logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the factors affecting pulp stone status. Differences were considered as significant when p < 0.05. Out of a total of 19,857 patients, pulp stones were identified in 6.5%. Among the 548,415 teeth examined, 0.96% had pulp stones. The incidence of pulp stones in girls (7.4%) was higher than in boys (5.7%) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of pulp stones increased with age and was significantly higher in molar teeth. A significant difference existed in the incidence of pulp stones according to the jaws (p < 0.001). In both jaws, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of teeth with pulp stones being on the right and left (p = 0.834). Of molars with pulp stones, 91.8% had completed root formation. The majority of patients (37.7%) had pulp stones in four teeth. Knowing the incidence of pulp stones in paediatric patients by dentists, endodontists, and paediatric dentists will help prevent complications that may occur during applications by facilitating the determination of appropriate methods, especially during endodontic procedures.

A Case Report with Two-Year Follow-Up of Auto-Transplantation Tooth

Autotransplantation of a maxillary premolar tooth is a considerable option for tooth replacement in young adult patients, while Hemisection is a conservative way of preserving teeth. In this case report, we describe successful autotransplantation of the mesial root of the mandibular molar to replace the first maxillary premolar with complete root formation. The donor root was immediately placed at the recipient site and splinted for 14 days. Root canal treatment (RCT) was initiated 3 weeks after transplantation. Clinical and radiographic findings at 24 months of follow-up are compared with the results described in the literature. In case of non-extraction, adjacent teeth can be preserved in an economical way, also, case selection is essential in performing sequences of procedures for the success of treatment.

OUTCOMES OF AUTOTRANSPLANTED THIRD MOLARS WITH COMPLETE ROOT FORMATION: A SYSTEMIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

Clear evidence is lacking regarding the outcomes of autogenous tooth transplantation (ATT) of third molars with complete root formation. The current review aims to explore the long-term survival and complication rates. A comprehensive search was performed in December 2022 of the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, EBSCO, Ovid, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022337659). The pooled survival, root resorption, and ankyloses rates were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the effects of sample size and 3D techniques. Twelve studies from 5 countries fulfilled the eligibility, with 759 third molars transplanted in 723 patients. Five studies reported 100% survival at 1-year follow-up. After excluding these 5 studies, the pooled survival rate was 93.62% at 1 year. The survival rate of 1 large sample study was significantly higher than that of small ones at 5 years. The complications of studies using 3D techniques were: root resorption 2.06% (95% CI: 0.22, 7.50) and ankyloses 2.81% (95% CI: 0.16, 12.22), compared to those without 3D techniques: root resorption 10.18% (95% CI: 4.50, 17.80) and ankyloses 6.49% (95% CI: 3.45, 10.96). ATT of third molars with complete root formation is a reliable alternative for replacement of a missing tooth and has a promising survival rate. The use of 3D techniques can reduce complication rates and improve long-term survival.

Orthodontic Approach of Impacted Mandibular Canine

The etiology, diagnosis, and orthodontic approach for the treatment of an impacted mandibular canines have less well established compared to the maxillary canine. From the orthodontic aspect, the patient’s age and root development of the impacted canine at the timing of diagnosis would be important predictors for successful orthodontic traction. In this case report, we introduced 2 cases of successful traction of mandibular impacted canines in adolescent and elderly patients who had completed root formation. For these patients with the increased complexity of treatment, the orthodontic traction mechanics should be carefully considered to reduce the periodontal side effects and respond appropriately to unexpected decrease in traction rate during the treatment.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ПЛОТНОСТИ ОКОЛОПУЛЬПАРНОГО ДЕНТИНА В ПОСТОЯННЫХ ИНТАКТНЫХ ЗУБАХ У ЗДОРОВЫХ ДЕТЕЙ И У ДЕТЕЙ С НЕСОВЕРШЕННЫМ ОСТЕОГЕНЕЗОМ

The article presents the results of studying the degree of mineralization of the peripulpal dentin in healthy children and in children with osteogenesis imperfecta according to the data of cone beam computed tomography. In teeth with malformations of heavy tissue tissues, in particular with imperfect osteogenesis, pathological changes are noted in the special enamel and dentin involved in teeth and root canals. The study of the observed characteristics of the distribution of peripulpal dentin in dangerous intact teeth and teeth with malformations of hard dental tissues is of great interest.&#x0D; Subject. Of the study is the degree of mineralization of the peripulpal dentin in permanent intact teeth in healthy children and in children with osteogenesis imperfecta. &#x0D; Objectives. The degree of mineralization of periculpar dentin in children with osteogenesis imperfecta and in healthy peers in permanent intact teeth according to cone-beam computed tomography.&#x0D; Methodology. The study was performed at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and at the Department of Radiation Diagnostics of the Moscow State Medical University named after A.I. Evdokimov in the Department of X-ray and Radiation Diagnostics of the CCCHLPHIS Clinic of the Moscow State Medical University named after A.I. Evdokimov. The study involved 22 patients aged 7 to 14 years.&#x0D; Results. In the group of children with imperfect osteogenesis in permanent molars with completed root formation, obliteration of the tooth cavity and wide root canals are noted. In the group of healthy children with permanent intact molars, no expansion of the tooth cavity and root canals was noted, no signs of root canal obliteration were detected. The average density of dentin in permanent molars in the group of healthy children is significantly higher than in children suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta.&#x0D; Conclusions. Cone-beam computed tomography is an objective method of visualizing the teeth of both jaws, which allows with minimal radiation load and high accuracy to determine the density of periculpar dentin in permanent teeth in children in one study. Pronounced violations of the mineralization of hard tissues of teeth in children with osteogenesis imperfecta and require further study as the child grows up at the stages of dental rehabilitation.

Comparative evaluation of four different root canal irrigation techniques for apical extrusion of sodium hypochlorite - An in vitro study.

This study compared the potential for apical extrusion of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) when using needle irrigation (NI), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), passive subsonic irrigation (PSI), and negative pressure system (NP). One hundred freshly extracted human permanent anterior teeth with complete root formation were embedded rigidly in agarose gel-containing cresol purple. Teeth were randomly allocated to six groups: G1-NI; G2-PUI; G3-PSI; G4-NP; G5-positive control; and G6-negative control. The chemomechanical preparation was completed and 12 ml of 3% NaOCl was delivered for 180 s in all groups. Dye diffusion was standardized by doing gel photography after the NaOCl final irrigation the Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance test were used for the data analysis. G1 had statistically significant apical extrusion compared to G2 (P = 0.001), G3 (P = 0.001), and G4 (P = 0.001) groups. G4 showed the least amount of apical extrusion. pH-sensitive gel model is useful in evaluating NaOCl extrusion. NP produced least NaOCl extrusion as compared to the other three systems. Due consideration should be given to the potential for apical extrusion of the irrigant before the selection of an irrigation system.

Intracanal Microbiological Contamination Reduction Using Low-intensity Laser Associated with a Photosensitizer - In Vivo Study in Teeth of Dogs.

This study evaluated the efficacy of photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer azulene and low-intensity laser associated with standard root chemical-surgical preparation (performed with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite) in dogs. Twenty animals from the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (HOVET-FMVZ/USP) and treated at the Compared Dentistry Laboratory (Laboratório de Odontologia Veterinária [LOC]-FMVZ/USP) were included. Each subject possessed one single rooted tooth with complete root formation, pulp necrosis, complicated crown fracture and periapical bone rarefaction at the time of the radiographic examination. The endodontic treatment was performed in all dogs, which were divided into two equal groups. For group one, the standard chemical-surgical preparation was followed by the photodynamic therapy to evaluate the role of azulene after instrumentation. For group two, the photodynamic therapy was followed by the standard chemical-surgical preparation to evaluate the antimicrobial action of azulene before instrumentation. The results show that intracanal photodynamic therapy is efficient in eliminating unspecified bacterial and Enterococcus organism loads. In addition, this therapeutic modality reduces yeast contamination. The photodynamic therapy showed similar efficacy compared to standard chemical-surgical preparation. The application order of therapeutic modalities does not influence intracanal disinfection in both cases. This study shows that photodynamic therapy with low-intensity laser and azulene as a photosensitizer is a feasible alternative for improving treatment outcomes in routine practice of veterinary dentistry.

Pathologic conditions associated with impacted third molars: A retrospective study of panoramic radiographs in a Southern Brazilian population.

This study investigated the prevalence of developmental and acquired pathologic conditions associated with impacted third molars (3Ms) in a Southern Brazilian population and evaluated whether demographic and tooth characteristics were correlated with the presence of bone or tooth lesions. Panoramic radiographs were assessed for developmental (bone-related) or acquired (tooth-related) pathoses associated with impacted upper or lower 3Ms. Data on tooth positioning, tooth development, and patient demographics were collected. A trained, calibrated postgraduate student evaluated all images. Binary and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess associations between outcomes and the demographic and radiographic variables. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 5% (P<0.05). The sample comprised panoramic radiographs from 2054 patients, predominantly female (59.2%), with a mean age of 27.2 ± 11.5 years. Overall, 4066 impacted 3Ms were evaluated, revealing 471 (11.6%) developmental and 710 (17.5%) acquired pathoses. Among the developmental pathoses, 460 (95.2%) were indicative of dentigerous cysts. Male sex, lower 3M location, vertical or distoangular positioning, and incomplete root formation were associated with an elevated likelihood of developmental pathology. Lower tooth position, complete root formation, and partial eruption were linked to an increased probability of an acquired pathology in the third or second molar. The prevalence of pathologic conditions associated with impacted 3Ms was low. Male sex, lower 3M placement, horizontal or distoangular positioning, and incomplete root formation were associated with developmental pathoses, while lower tooth position, complete root formation, and partial eruption were related to acquired pathoses.

Age estimation of Iraqi children and young adults based on third molar development and its relation to chronological age

The study aimed to estimate the age of Iraqi children and young adults based on the third molar development to establish Iraqi reference material for orthodontic and forensic purposes, and to investigate the correlation between the estimated and chronological age. A retrospective analysis of digital orthopantographs of 1515 patients of Iraqi origin, aged from 6 to 25 years was conducted, and the developmental status of the mandibular right third molar for each patient was evaluated using Demirjian et al.’s method. Statistical analysis was carried out using “Mann-Whitney U -test” between genders. The linear regression analysis was performed to obtain “regression formulas” for dental age calculation with chronologic age. No statistically significant differences were observed between Iraqi males and females at any age. The median of male and female age of initial calcification of the cuspal tips for mandibular third molars was 9 years, whereas 14 years was the median of age for both genders when the crown was completed. All mandibular right third molars have a complete root formation with apex closure at a median of male and female age 22 years. The use of Demirjian et al.’s method was appropriate as a reliable age indicator for Iraqi population. A strong correlation was observed between these stages and chronological age. Consequently, reference data have been established for mandibular third molar development in Iraqi population.

Orthodontic extrusion treatment of intrusive maxillary incisors: Two case reports with either incomplete or complete root formation

Treatment of intrusive dislocation after dental trauma is challenging. There is little evidence on the treatment protocol, outcome, and risks during orthodontic extrusion in tooth repositioning. These two case reports aimed to describe and discuss orthodontic extrusion treatment of the intrusive incisors with or without complete root formation using a technique of straight wire appliances. The treatment started 4 weeks after trauma after a failed attempt at spontaneous reeruption. The orthodontic force was controlled at 100-150 g of force at the beginning and 30-50 g of force afterward. Pulp necrosis was observed, and root canal therapy was performed in the intrusive teeth with complete root formation during orthodontic treatment; however, the roots continued growing in those teeth with incomplete root formation. A fixed lingual retainer was applied during mixed dentition. Follow-up showed the stable condition of the intrusive teeth. Orthodontic extrusion could lead to a satisfactory result in repositioning the intrusive teeth. However, additional clinical evidence is needed for a standardized treatment protocol.

Does Root Development Status Affect the Outcome of Tooth Autotransplantation? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Tooth autotransplantation is defined as the surgical repositioning of an autogenous tooth in another surgical site within the same individual. Aim: The aim of this research was to analyze the outcome of tooth transplantation using immature donor teeth compared with closed apex teeth and to compare differences between donor tooth positions on the arch. Methods: Electronic and manual literature searches were performed in different databases, including the National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE), EMBASE (OVID), Cochrane Central (CENTRAL), and the digital library of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC University) from 1978 to March 2021. Studies were selected when they fulfilled the following criteria: only human prospective clinical studies, minimum sample size of 10 patients, minimum follow-up of 1 year, studies reporting or with at least deducible data on survival rates, immediate tooth autotransplantation with completed or incomplete root formation, and publications in the English language. A meta-analysis of random effects was developed to estimate the global effect measure of the survival rate, success rate, and root resorption involving the total sample, as well as open- and closed-apex groups. Results: Twenty-four articles were eligible for analysis. The Cohen’s kappa corresponding to this review was 0.87, and the risk assessment was considered low–moderate for the included studies. Overall survival and success rates were 95.9% and 89.4%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 4 years and an overall mean age of 25.2 ± 12.3 years. Closed apex teeth showed a survival rate of 3.9% lower than that of open apex teeth. Higher complication rates were found for both inflammatory external root resorption and replacement root resorption in the closed-apex group, without reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: Tooth autotransplantation is a viable treatment alternative, regardless of the apical condition, with high survival and success rates after a mean follow-up of 4 years. Open-apex donor teeth could be considered the gold-standard option, showing lower complication rates when compared to closed-apex donor teeth. Future randomized controlled clinical studies are needed to examine the long-term prognosis of this technique.

A Prospective Study on Autotransplantation of Mandibular Third Molars With Complete Root Formation.

Autotransplantation, if possible, is a viable option for replacing a missing tooth when a donor tooth is available. The most typical tooth transplant is the transfer of a third molar to a first molar site. No immune reaction results from transplants of this nature. It restores the proprioceptive function and normal periodontal healing; thus, the patient can have a natural chewing feeling and natural biological response. This study aims to evaluate the prognosis of autotransplanted mandibular third molar and also to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the treatment performed when compared to the other treatment modalities for prosthetic rehabilitation. A prospective study was done in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences, Lucknow, UP, India, with over 20 patients to evaluate the prognosis of autotransplanted mandibular third molars with complete root formation after atraumatic extraction of first or second mandibular molar, which were randomly selected irrespective of race, sex, caste, and socio-economic status. Regular clinical and radiographical examinations were performed over a period of 1 year and the patients were assessed for pain, swelling, infection, dry socket, periodontal pocket depth, ankylosis, root resorption, tooth mobility, and level of buccal bone in relation to cementoenamel junction (CEJ). Eighteen out of 20 transplants were successful; only 2 mandibular transplants were extracted because of abnormal horizontal and axial mobility and the reason of failure was attributed to fact that the roots of transplant were short and conical and there was lack of alveolar bone height at the recipient site in one patient, while root resorption was the reason for failure of transplant in the other patient. This study assessed the efficacy of autotransplantation of molars and the viability of the procedure to replace unrestorable molar teeth; it also supports the hypothesis that transplantation of a mandibular third molar for replacement of a lost or seriously damaged molar tooth could be a reasonable alternative.

Correlation of Left Mandibular Third Molar Development and Chronological Age

The aim of this study is to evaluate the development of the left mandibular third-molar development with modified Demirjian method and its relation to chronological age. A total of 1653 digital panoramic radiographs of healthy individuals aged between 7 and 23 years who visited Yonsei University Dental hospital were selected. The developmental status of the left mandibular third molars was assessed using dental maturity scoring proposed by Demirjian et al. The mean age of the first appearance of mineralization, complete crown formation, and complete root formation were around 9, 14, 21 years respectively. Statistically significant differences between males and females in the development stage of D and G were revealed that crown formation and root length completion were attained earlier in males than in females. There was significant positive relationship between age and third molar development in both sexes, and new formula was presented to estimate age of children and adolescents based on their developmental stages of third molars. In this study, the use of left mandibular third molar as a developmental marker is appropriate, and age estimation can be attained with dental maturity stage.