Development of the autotransplantation technique: from freehand surgery to a digital 3D workflow
Autotransplantation of teeth is an effective treatment option for tooth replacement, particularly in young patients. Traditionally, the recipient socket is prepared freehand by repeatedly fitting the donor tooth, which may result in prolonged extra-alveolar time and potential damage to the periodontal ligament. With the introduction of cone beam computed tomography imaging, digital planning and 3D printing technology, it has become possible to fabricate a patient-specific replica of the donor tooth. This allows the recipient socket to be prepared accurately, thus limiting intraoperative adjustments and extra-alveolar time.