"In Their Own Words": Families' Experiences With Tooth Autotransplantation for the Replacement of Maxillary Incisors in Children.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine families' experiences, including motivation and barriers to undergoing tooth autotransplantation (AT), and their perceptions of associated esthetic and functional outcomes.

Methods: Semi-structured, in-depth-interviews (IDIs) were conducted in person with families who had children that underwent the AT procedure. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded and thematically analyzed both deductively and inductively. A facilitators and barriers matrix and journey maps were created to draw inferences on patterns arising from main themes.

Results: Twenty families selecting AT as a solution for a missing maxillary incisor were recruited and interviewed. Overall, all families interviewed had a positive experience with the AT procedure. Motivating factors for undergoing the AT procedure included wanting an earlier intervention for the missing incisor, wishing to mitigate negative psychosocial effects, and the anticipated positive outcomes that would last into adulthood. Barriers to uptake of the AT procedure included the lack of dental practitioner awareness of AT as a potential solution and a large number of appointments and travel. Families were also initially concerned over potential complications that could arise from their child undergoing this procedure. The cost of the procedure was both a barrier and a facilitator for treatment.

Conclusions: The study results demonstrate that the overall AT is favorably considered by the families of growing children for the replacement of maxillary incisors and highlight factors that may act as motivators or barriers to its uptake.