A study of replanted permanent teeth in different age groups

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of replanting avulse d permanent teeth in different age groups. Of the 112 replanted teeth, 103 could be examined after 2.5 years on average. The teeth were divided into t hree groups: immature teeth (group A), mature teeth in children and adolesc ents (group B), and mature teeth in adults (group C). Concomitant injuries did not differ statistically between the groups. Extra-alveolar time with u nphysiologic storage was longer than 15 min in 81 teeth. The results were s tatistically different for pulpal healing (A>>B>C), loss of marginal bone ( C>A), amount of replacement resorption (A and B>C), alveolar growth inhibit ion (A>B>>C), local gingivitis (B>A and C) and buccal gingival retraction ( C>A and B). Only 3 of 23 extracted teeth were lost because of replacement r esorption alone. Only 2 of the 23 extracted teeth showed revascularization of the pulp. The results suggested that replanting avulsed teeth should be considered a temporary solution in children and adolescents. In these patie nts, the benefit of tooth replantation is mainly the time gained to establi sh an optimal treatment plan. Mature teeth with a necrotic periodontal liga ment replanted in children before the pubertal growth spurt seemed to have the poorest prognosis.