Work

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

Year: 2024

Type: article

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.

Source: Dental Traumatology

DOI: 10.1111/edt.12990

Authors: Beatrice O. Williams, Milenka Jean‐Baptiste, Kimon Divaris, Antonio Moretti, Ingeborg De Kok, John R. Christensen

Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Dental Trauma and Treatments

Subfield: Emergency Medical Services

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: American Association of Orthodontists Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences