title: Stabilization of autotransplanted teeth using thermoplastic retainers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Different fixation techniques have been used for stabilization of autotransplanted teeth. Because rigid or extended fixation periods can cause complications such as ankylosis and disturbances of pulpal revascularization, our aim was to evaluate an alternative technique, a removable splint, for improving the success rate of autotransplanted molar teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 44 patients, (20 male and 24 female patients), 45 transplanted teeth were analyzed. These cases were followed for 31 to 47 months after operation. Transplanted teeth were evaluated after use of a thermoplastic retainer for 1 month, in terms of success rate and dissatisfaction with this apparatus. The primary stability, ankylosis, and root resorption were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To date, 1 transplant was extracted after 6 months due to unpreventable periapical root inflammation, and 2 transplants were extracted after one year due to external root resorption. Although 2 ankylosed transplants were still functional after an average follow-up period of three years, with no dissatisfaction by the patients, these cases were treated as failures because of the probable risk for external root resorption. The remaining 40 (88.8 % success rate) transplants remained asymptomatic and functioning for a mean follow-up period of 37 months. In the assessment of dissatisfaction with the thermoplastic retainer, 36 (81.8 %) patients had no or little dissatisfaction, 4 (9 %) patients had very appreciable or excessive dissatisfaction, and 4 (9 %) patients had moderate dissatisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A thermoplastic retainer for use after autotransplantation of third molar teeth is a reasonable and useful method and a good alternative to conventional rigid or semi-rigid splints. This technique was especially useful in autotransplanted teeth that had poor stability, i.e., in cases in which it is conventionally advised to use long-term rigid or semi-rigid splints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gaziantep University Faculty of Dentistry, 27070, Gaziantep, Turkey. phismer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isa-Kara
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emre-Coşkun
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kustarci
authors.forename: Hidayet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burak-Polat
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000637:transplantation*; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers; D010516:Periodontal Splints; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult