[Long-term evaluation of bilateral alveolar bone grafting]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the long-term result of the bilateral alveolar bone grafting.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive complete bilateral cleft lip and palate patients (36 males and 19 females) who had alveolar bone grafting were included in this study. The total number of cleft sites was 110. Cancellous bone from the iliac crest was grafted into the alveolar cleft areas. The cleft sites were studied in two groups according to whether the cleft canine had erupted prior to bone grafting or not. Anterior occlusal radiographs were taken before and after bone grafting. The minimum period of observation after alveolar bone grafting was one year. Criteria described by Bergland et al. (1986) were utilised to assess the height of the interdental septum.

Results: The results showed that bone grafting before canine eruption has a higher clinical success rate (95%) compared with that carried out after canine eruption (67%).

Conclusion: The critical variable affecting the quality of bilateral alveolar bone grafting is the timing of the surgery.