Experimental Tooth Transplantation in the Rhesus Monkey

¹ School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, California

Forty mandibular incisors were autologoulsy transplanted in 20 rhesus monkeys. These autografts were studied histologically and roentgenographically, 4 days to 11 months postoperatively. Necrosis of the pulpal tissue with osteoid formation in the apical regions was initially noted. At the eighth day, connective tissue began to enter and replace this necrotic tissue. By 21 days, the coronal portion of the pulpal canal was being filled with an osteodentin bridge and, at the apical region, new odontoblasts were beginning to lay down dentin. At 3 months and thereafter, there was an actively growing root with normal pulp tissue. Of the 40 autotransplants, 35 were considered successful and the other five were considered unsuccessful.