[Transplantation of the lower wisdom teeth. 6 years' experience]

The authors report their experience with reference to wisdom tooth transplantation involving fifteen patients over a period of 6 years. They exclude from this paper those transplantations which they have done using buds without roots and those with teeth with completely formed roots, which would not appear to be the best time for transplantation from a physiological standpoint. They feel that the main indication occurs when (multi-ring orthodontic treatment being impossible) the first molar is impossible to preserve and the wisdom tooth cannot apparently become functional. They describe their techniques. Despite the successess obtained (11 cases out of 15) with a follow-up of 6 years to one and a half years, the authors express a degree of reserve as far as the distant future is concerned with regard to possible rhizoclasia.

[Tooth transplantation]

In the light of the thesis of J. Thibault, the authors suggest, in association with transplantation of wisdom tooth buds into the alveolus of the first molar, a technique consisting of placing the graft in its pre-eruptive position, removing in a block the bud, the gubernaculum and the sub-jacent gingival mucosa. Under these conditions, eruption occurs at the same time as development of the roots, which represents the most physiological solution. At the same time as formation of the root, the authors noted a paradoxal rhizalysis, hypercementosis resulting in ankylosis and conservation of vitality. In addition, almost all the teeth transplanted proved to be highly vulnerable to caries.