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The present investigation is a clinical and radiographic study of 76 autotransplantations of third molars. The observation period ranged from less than one up to six years (average 3.7 years). In 58 cases the teeth were transplanted after extraoral root filling whereas 18 teeth were transplanted without endodontic intervention. At re-examination of the transplanted molars the marginal and the periapical conditions were examined clinically and radiographically. Third molars transplanted without root filling showed significantly less progressive root resorption and less increase in pocket depth as compared to teeth transplanted after extraoral root filling. A multivariate analysis was applied to examine the relationship between 17 clinical factors and the dependent variables -progressive root resorption, pocket depth, and periapical radiolucency -in 56 teeth transplanted after extraoral root filling. Progressive root resorption was found in 44 cases (79 %), and this complication was found signiticantly related to the variables approximal grinding of donor tooth, extraoral period, and observation period. Increased pocket depth around the transplant was registered in 30 cases (52 %) and found significantly related to the period of splinting. Periapical radiolucency was found in 16 cases and was significantly related to the variable extraoral period.Since the first sti3dies on autotransplantations of third molars in humans were published by Apfel and Miller, both in 1950, a number of investigations have been reported dealing with the technique and results of third molar transplantations. Various criteria have been used to estimate the results, therefore a comparison of different materials is difficult.It appears that most authors have found favorable results in more than 50% of third molar transplantations.Varying opinions exist with regard to the stage of root formation at which the transplantation shoulmd be performed. Nordenram (1963) found in a well-documented study that the most favorable results were obtained when more than half of the root length was completed at the time of transplantation.The indication for third molar transplantations is in most cases extensive periapical complications involving the mandibular first or second molars. Due to the rather limited period in which the stage of root development of third molars is such that a good result of a transplantation may be anticipated, these operations have until now generally been restricted to the age groups from 15 to 20 years of age. If transplantations of third molars could be performed when

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