Quantitative scintigraphic analysis of pulp revascularization in autotransplanted teeth in dogs

Arch Oral Biol. 2010 Nov;55(11):825-9. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2010.07.005. Epub 2010 Aug 25.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulpal changes associated with autogenous single-rooted immature tooth transplantation in dogs, using either one, or two-stage surgical techniques.

Methods: Teeth from 3 beagle dogs, 5 months old, were extracted and transplanted to mechanically prepared recipient sockets. Group (A), where the teeth were transplanted using a one-stage method to recipient beds prepared immediately before transplantation. Group (B), where the teeth were transplanted using a two-stage method in which the recipient beds were prepared and left to heal for 7 days before transplantation. Clinical examinations were done every week during 9 weeks. After 9 weeks, the animals were injected with ⁹⁹(m)Technetium hydroxylmethylene diphosphonate (⁹⁹(m)Tc-HMDP) and 3h after injection, a whole body scintigraphic acquisition was performed. After scintigraphic acquisition the animals were euthanized and the teeth extracted and its radioactivity counted in a well counter calibrated to ⁹⁹(m)Tc. With the data obtained, the percentage of activity injected was calculated for each tooth. The data for each group of teeth were evaluated and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test (p=0.05).

Results: All the transplanted teeth in both groups survived. No statistically significant difference was found in the absorption of the ⁹⁹(m)Tc-HMDP, between the treatment groups (p=0.464) and between them and the control group (Group A vs. control p=0.713 and Group B vs. control p=0.157).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that there was no difference between the two surgical techniques in terms of the pulp revascularization in transplanted teeth.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dental Pulp / blood supply*
  • Dental Pulp / diagnostic imaging
  • Dogs
  • Gamma Cameras
  • Incisor / diagnostic imaging
  • Incisor / transplantation*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / pharmacokinetics
  • Tooth Replantation
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Whole Body Imaging

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate