title: Autotransplantation donor tooth site harvesting using piezosurgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The harvesting of a tooth as a candidate for tooth autotransplantation requires that the delicate dental tissues around the tooth be minimally traumatized. This is especially so for the periradicular tissues of the tooth root and the follicular tissues surrounding the crown. The aim of this report is to describe the use of piezosurgery as an attempt at morbidity reduction in the harvesting of teeth for autotransplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A piezosurgical handpiece and its selection of tips were easily adapted to allow the harvesting and delivery of teeth for autotransplantation purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty premolar teeth were harvested using a piezosurgical device. The harvested teeth were subsequently successfully autotransplanted. All twenty teeth healed in a satisfactory manner without excessive mobility or ankyloses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Piezosurgery avoids some of the traumatic aspects of harvesting teeth and removing bone which are associated with thermal damage from the use of conventional rotary instruments or saws. Piezosurgery can be adapted to facilitate the predictable harvesting of teeth for autotransplantation purposes.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Leena P
authors: LP
authors: Ylikontiola
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; BioMediTech, Institute of Bioscience and Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors: George K
authors: GK
authors: Sándor
keywords: Autotransplantation; piezosurgery; tooth harvest