Secondary bone graft and eruption of the permanent canine in patients with alveolar clefts: literature review and case report

This paper emphasizes the important role that secondary bone grafting plays on the treatment of patients with alveolar clefts. The authors present a literature review and, based on panoramic radiographs, retrospectively and longitudinally analyze the behavior of permanent canines after completion of secondary bone grafting in 50 patients at the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of S?o Paulo, Brazil. Twelve patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus and 38 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (n = 50) had undergone bone grafts to repair their residual alveolar clefts before the eruption of their permanent canines. These patients were observed over an average period of 3 years. In 94% of the sample (47 patients), the permanent canines presented intra-alveolar movement toward the oral cavity. In 72% of those 47 patients (36 patients), the permanent canines spontaneously erupted through the grafted area. In 6% of the 47 patients (3 patients), the permanent canines required orthodontic traction.     

Long-term outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with various types of cleft

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with various types of cleft. DESIGN: One hundred and seventy patients were classified as cleft lip and alveolar process alone (CLAP), complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). The Bergland criteria were used to assess the long-term outcome of alveolar bone grafting. RESULTS: In the UCLP and BCLP groups, the success rate was significantly better (P<0.05) when the cleft was grafted before the eruption of canines. When the operation was done after the eruption of canines, there was a significant difference in the success rate between CLAP and BCLP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The timing of the operation was the critical variable that affected the outcome in patients with complete cleft lip and palate. The severity of the deformity influenced the success rate when alveolar bone grafting was done after the eruption of canines.     

不同年龄组牙槽嵴裂植骨术后牙槽嵴高度的临床观察

目的：评价在不同年龄阶段髂骨松质骨移植修复牙槽嵴裂术后植入骨的变化情况。方法：根据牙槽嵴裂患者裂隙侧尖牙萌出情况，将其分为A、B两组，通过牙槽嵴裂植骨术后临床随访和拍摄X线，追踪观察植骨区牙槽嵴高度的变化。结果：尖牙萌出前植骨优于尖牙萌出后植骨，术后正畸可增高牙槽嵴的高度。结论：牙萌出可增高牙槽嵴裂患者植骨术后牙槽嵴的高度。     

Dental abnormalities, bone graft quality, and periodontal conditions in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate at different phases of orthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the dental and periodontal condition of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) before orthodontic treatment and evaluate whether the dental and periodontal condition of these patients during and after orthodontic treatment was jeopardized by the duration of the orthodontic and surgical treatment. DESIGN: Seventy-five individuals with UCLP (52 males, 23 females), between ages 8 and 20 years, participated in a retrospective study during their final follow-up visit with regard to dental abnormalities, such as hypodontia, external root resorption, crown and root malformation, and supernumerary teeth. Alveolar bone height and periodontal attachment loss on the cleft side were also screened before or after bone grafting and at different stages of orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Hypodontia of the lateral incisor was found in more than 50% of the patients on the cleft side. Second premolars and/or lateral incisors outside the cleft area were missing in 27.2% of the patients. In 32%, malformations of the teeth near the cleft were noticed. In general, the teeth around and in the cleft of the patients showed normal septal bone heights and a healthy periodontium. Sixty of the 75 patients received a bone graft to restore the interrupted alveolar process. In 93.3% of these patients, the cleft was grafted before the eruption of the canine. CONCLUSION: The periodontium of the teeth in and around the cleft in patients with UCLP observed during and after orthodontic treatment can cope relatively well with the long orthodontic treatment and combined surgical interventions. The children, who had not yet started treatment, also showed enough bone support and no periodontal problems of the teeth besides the cleft. Early secondary bone grafting seems to give optimal periodontal results.     

倍骼生修复牙槽突裂的初步临床观察

目的：观察人工骨修复材料-倍骼生治疗牙槽突裂的临床效果。方法：牙槽突裂患者39例，年龄6-12岁，随机分成2组，A组25例。用自体髂骨松质骨行牙槽突裂移植修复；B组14例，应用倍骼生修复牙槽突裂。结果：A、B两组牙槽突裂植骨区X线片均示成骨良好，尖牙可在植骨区萌出。经统计学分析，A、B两组牙槽突裂植骨术的临床治疗成功率无显著差别．但不同牙槽突裂类型的临床治疗成功率有显著差别，即完全性牙槽突裂的临床治疗成功率显著低于单纯性牙槽突裂组。结论：新型骨修复生物活性材料倍骼生修复牙槽突裂骨性裂隙区可以成骨，尖牙可在移植区萌出。     

Prevalence of abnormalities in dental structure, position, and eruption pattern in a population of unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dental characteristics of patients subjected to a protocol that included early secondary gingivoalveoloplasty (ESGAP). DESIGN: Panoramic radiographs of 87 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and 29 with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) were evaluated. Missing and supernumerary teeth were also quantified on the cleft and noncleft side and in the maxilla and mandible. Crown and root malformations and tooth rotations were quantified. A subsample in permanent dentition was extrapolated to analyze canine eruption patterns. RESULTS: A total of 48.8% of the UCLP patients presented with missing permanent lateral incisors in the cleft area and 6.1% contralaterally. A total of 4.9% presented with missing second maxillary premolars on the cleft site and 1.2% contralaterally. A total of 7.3% presented with supernumerary lateral incisors, and 45% of the BCLP cleft sites presented with missing lateral incisors, while 25% of the cleft sites presented second maxillary premolars agenesis. Five percent of the cleft sites presented with supernumerary lateral incisors. Evaluation of the subsample in permanent dentition showed that 15.5% had a canine retention and 4.4% of the canines had to be surgically exposed. A significant association was observed between canine inclination and retention but not with absence of the lateral incisor. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of dental anomalies in this sample was similar to other cleft populations. As surgical trauma has been suggested to damage forming teeth, the results of this study indicated that ESGAP has no detrimental influence on subsequent dental development.     

Mandibular bone graft material for reconstruction of alveolar cleft defects: long-term results.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the long-term effect of mandibular bone as donor material in bone grafting of the alveolar process defect in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), compared with iliac crest cancellous bone. METHOD: During a 7-year period, 101 UCLP patients were bone grafted, 57 cases with iliac crest cancellous bone and 44 with mandibular symphyseal bone. The long-term results with an observation time of more than 4 years were analyzed with respect to marginal bone level and dental and gingival condition in the grafted area. Complications were recorded. RESULTS: The bone level in the grafted area was satisfactory in both groups. Impaction of cleft-side canines was found in 35% of the patients in both groups. Patients with agenesis of the cleft side lateral incisor had significantly more impacted canines, compared with patients with a cleft-side lateral situated in the lesser maxillary segment, probably due to the fact that the lateral incisors help in guiding the canine down through the grafted area. The number of complications was scarce, although both groups demonstrated some gingival retraction with a longer crown length at the cleft side central incisor. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study have changed our strategy in bone grafting. Timing of orthodontic treatment and bone grafting has been more varied depending on the position and presence of teeth in the cleft area. Bone grafting of the alveolar process is not just a local treatment of a bony defect, but in respect to the burden of treatment, bone grafting of the alveolar process has to be planned in accordance with orthodontic treatment and maxillofacial growth.     

Effect of timing on long-term clinical success of alveolar cleft bone grafts

Despite the almost universal agreement on the desirability of bone grafting in the cleft alveolar process, there are little long-term data to support preference for grafting at one time versus another. Investigation was undertaken to compare the clinical success of grafts placed at three distinct developmental stages: the "primary" group consisting of 20 rib grafts placed at less than 1 year of age; the "secondary" group consisting of 19 iliac crest grafts placed when the permanent canine was one fourth to one half formed; and the "delayed" group consisting of 18 iliac crest grafts placed after eruption of the permanent canines. Patients were a minimum of 15 years of age at time of final evaluation. Records were made a minimum of 5 years postsurgery. Biometric data and periapical x-ray films were evaluated. There was a trend for the delayed group to have a decreased incidence of successful bony bridging of the graft site compared with the other treatment groups. The primary group exhibited significantly (P less than 0.001) greater ridge height and increased bone attachment than the secondary and delayed groups. There were significantly fewer teeth lost adjacent to the cleft for the primary group compared with the secondary and delayed groups. Before orthodontic treatment, there were no significant differences among groups in incidence of anterior crossbite; posterior crossbites were seen more frequently in the secondary and delayed graft groups than in the primary group (P less than 0.001). At final evaluation, there were significantly fewer anterior and posterior crossbites in the primary group than in the secondary and delayed groups (P less than 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Radiographic evaluation of the transplant bone height in patients with clefts of the lip/alveolus/palate after secondary bone grafting

After secondary osteoplasty radiographic assessment was carried out on 101 patients with cleft lip, jaw and palate (CLP) with 129 uni- and bilateral clefts. The bone formation in the grafted area was assessed on dental radiographs taken 2.9 years on average after secondary osteoplasty. Patients were assigned to 4 groups (Types I to IV) with Types I and II being rated as a success. The purpose of the study was to compare the results in terms of the patients' age at time of surgery, presence or absence of the lateral incisors and prosthetic or orthodontic space closure.The best results in grafted bone height were observed among 6- to 9-year-olds and when the space in the dental arch had been closed orthodontically. If even hypoplastic lateral incisors were preserved, growth into the grafted area could be observed, resulting in successful bone formation of Types I and II. Space due to missing lateral incisors could best be orthodontically closed in the youngest age group and resulted in favorable septal height. The results obtained for the over 14-year-olds were least satisfactory. A reduced septal height was observed and space closure had to be obtained most frequently by prosthetic means.     

Radiographic evaluation of the transplant bone height in patients with clefts of the lip/alveolus/palate after secondary bone grafting

After secondary osteoplasty radiographic assessment was carried out on 101 patients with cleft lip, jaw and palate (CLP) with 129 uni- and bilateral clefts. The bone formation in the grafted area was assessed on dental radiographs taken 2.9 years on average after secondary osteoplasty. Patients were assigned to 4 groups (Types I to IV) with Types I and II being rated as a success. The purpose of the study was to compare the results in terms of the patients' age at time of surgery, presence or absence of the lateral incisors and prosthetic or orthodontic space closure.The best results in grafted bone height were observed among 6- to 9-year-olds and when the space in the dental arch had been closed orthodontically. If even hypoplastic lateral incisors were preserved, growth into the grafted area could be observed, resulting in successful bone formation of Types I and II. Space due to missing lateral incisors could best be orthodontically closed in the youngest age group and resulted in favorable septal height. The results obtained for the over 14-year-olds were least satisfactory. A reduced septal height was observed and space closure had to be obtained most frequently by prosthetic means.     

Long-term results after secondary bone grafting of alveolar clefts

The aim of this study was longitudinally to evaluate the treatment results after secondary bone grafting in 224 cleft patients with an observation period of more than four years. The patients were divided into three groups according to age and eruption stage of the canine at the time of surgery. Group A included 94 patients with a mean age of 10 years, operated before eruption of the canine; group B included 72 patients with a mean age of 13.1 years operated after eruption of the canine; and group C included 58 patients operated after the age of 16 years (mean age, 20.4 years). The evaluation of the treatment results included longitudinal comparison of marginal bone level, periodontal status on cleft-related teeth, dental status in the bone grafted region, esthetical and functional properties of the reconstructed alveolar process, as well as the influence on growth of the maxilla. The marginal bone level was found to be significantly higher among unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients in the youngest groups as compared to the other groups. The number of UCLP and BCLP patients who could be treated without bridgework was significantly higher in the youngest age group than in the other groups, as were the esthetic and functional properties of the reconstructed alveolar process. External root resorption occurred in 17 patients in groups B and C. No influence of the procedure on sagittal growth of the maxilla could be demonstrated, whereas the anterior facial height was reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dental abnormalities in permanent dentition in children with submucous cleft palate

Seventy-three children with submucous cleft palate (38 girls and 35 boys), mean age 8.2 years (range 7.7-9.5), were studied retrospectively from orthopantomograms. Dental abnormalities in permanent dentition were found in 26 patients (36%). Missing teeth, mainly lower 2nd premolars, upper lateral incisors, and upper 2nd premolars, were found in 12 patients (16%). Most of the patients had 1 or 2 missing teeth, 2 had 3 missing teeth. In 5 patients hypodontia was associated with another dental abnormality. Other dental abnormalities included peg-shaped lateral incisors in 7 patients (10%), ectopic eruption of upper 1st molars in 6 patients (8%), transposition of upper canines and 1st premolars in 3 patients (4%), supernumerary teeth in 2 patients (3%), and palatally displaced upper canines in 1 patient (1%). As children with submucous cleft palate have a tendency towards increased frequency of missing teeth and other dental abnormalities, the need for thorough clinical and radiological dental examination is emphasized.     

双侧唇腭裂牙槽突植骨长期疗效的研究

目的　探讨双侧唇腭裂病例牙槽突植骨的远期疗效。方法　 5 5例双侧完全性唇腭裂患者 ,双侧牙槽突植骨手术在GOS儿童医院 (GreatOrmondStreetHospitalforChildren)完成 ,植骨部位共110个。植骨材料选用髂骨松质骨 ,以植骨手术进行时尖牙的萌出情况将裂隙分为 2组。植骨前后拍摄上颌前部咬合片 ,手术后观察时间为 1至 10年。采用Bergland标准评价植骨部位的牙槽骨高度。结果　在尖牙萌出前植骨的成功率 (95 % )明显高于尖牙萌出后植骨者 (6 7% )。结论　影响唇腭裂患者牙槽突植骨成功的因素很多 ,植骨时机是植骨成功与否的重要因素     

Analysis of bone resorption after secondary alveolar cleft bone grafts before and after canine eruption in connection with orthodontic gap closure or prosthodontic treatment.

PURPOSE: We sought to analyze the success rate of secondary alveolar cleft bone grafts before and after canine eruption in connection with orthodontic gap closure or gap opening. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight secondary alveolar cleft bone grafts with iliac crest spongiosa were carried out in 57 patients (mean age, 9 years; age range, 8 to 11 years) with 11 bilateral and 46 unilateral clefts of the lip, alveolus, or palate. Gap closures were carried out after 53 bone grafts (78%), and gap openings with subsequent dental implants were carried out with 15 bone grafts (22%). The parameters acquired radiologically (orthopantomograms) at the time of the surgery and the follow-up examination (mean age, 3 years; age range, 7 months to 9 years) were 1) bone resorption in relation to the interdental height of the alveolar process in the vicinity of the cleft and 2) root growth of the teeth in the vicinity of the cleft. The statistically significant differences (P <.05) were monitored with a software program. Resorption grades I and II (>50% of the interalveolar bone height) were considered to be a success. RESULTS: Resorption was grade I in 69%, grade II in 19%, grade III in 10%, and grade IV in 1% of cases. Thus, the overall success rate was 88%. At the time of the osteoplasty, the root growth of the tooth in the immediate vicinity of the cleft was fully completed in 27 teeth (39%), three-quarters completed in 23 teeth (26.5%), and semicompleted in 18 teeth (33.8%). Twelve teeth (18%) in the vicinity of the cleft (lateral incisors/canine) remained unerupted and displaced after the surgery. It was necessary to expose unerupted teeth surgically to reposition them orthodontically. The resorption losses were significantly lower with gap closures than with gap openings (P <.001). However, bone grafts performed before canine eruption were largely carried out with the objective of orthodontic gap closure, in contrast to the bone grafts that were carried out after canine eruption (P <.02). CONCLUSION: Gap closures provide more favorable results than do gap openings in regard to resorption. Controlled dental eruptions or orthodontic gap closures reduce the graft resorption. The exact timing of surgery proved to be only a secondary consideration.     

Canines erupted through grafted alveolar cleft defects in patients with alveolar clefts: a pulp testing evaluation study

An electric pulp tester (EPT) was used to evaluate the pulpal response of erupted canines in 75 patients: 16 patients with unilateral cleft palate who received autogenous bone grafts to correct their alveolar cleft defects before canine eruption; 35 patients without cleft palate whose canines erupted spontaneously, but who required orthodontic treatment for alignment; and 24 patients without clefts whose canines required surgical uncovering and orthodontic assistance for eruption. Thirty-one percent of the erupted canines in the patients with grafted unilateral clefts did not respond to EPT, whereas all canines in the contralateral noncleft side responded to EPT. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of pulpal pathosis of the canines that had erupted through the grafted alveolar clefts. However, these teeth had a high incidence of nonresponsiveness to pulp stimulation, therefore necessitating close follow-up in case they show eventual signs of pulpal degeneration that may require endodontic intervention.     

The reconstruction of bilateral clefts using endosseous implants after bone grafting.

This article presents the orthodontic reconstruction of an adult bilateral cleft patient with a severe Class III malocclusion in which endosseous implants were inserted after secondary alveolar bone grafting. The patient was a 21-year-old Japanese male whose lateral incisors were congenitally missing and whose premaxilla was inclined lingually. The occlusion was classified as Angle Class III with an overjet of -8 mm. Orthodontic alignment was initiated to correct the position of the maxillary incisors before bone grafting. After the anterior occlusal relationship was corrected, bilateral alveolar clefts were reconstructed by bone grafting with autogenous particulate marrow and cancellous bone harvested from the iliac crest. ITI-SLA fixtures (Institute Straumann, Waldenburg, Switzerland) (length, 10 mm; diameter, 4.1 mm) were placed into the grafted bone for prosthetic restoration of the missing lateral incisors. The results illustrate that this protocol can be expected to provide an acceptable occlusion and good dentoalveolar stability in adult cleft patients.     

Correction of alveolar cleft with calcium-based bone substitutes

The criterion standard of alveolar cleft repair is iliac crest bone graft before secondary canine eruption. Tooth eruption has never been shown to occur in synthetic bone substitute, and there is no ideal autologous bone graft for primary repair. This prospective study evaluated alveolar cleft grafting with a calcium substitute before primary canine eruption. Ten consecutive patients with complete cleft lip, palate, and unilateral alveolar cleft with reasonably aligned arches were grafted beginning in January 2003 to March 2007. Mean age at surgery was 10.4 months. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 7 years. Radiologic evaluation of alveolar ridge was performed at the age of 4.All 10 patients were operated on by the same surgeon using the same technique, that is, conservative elevation of nasal, oral, and anterior alveolar mucosal flaps around the cleft, closure of nasal and oral flaps, placement of 1 to 3 mL of calcium substitute paste or crystals in the pocket, and closure of the anterior alveolar mucosa. All 10 patients healed without complication. Clinical evaluation revealed a well-healed arch with primary canine growth in the area of the previous cleft. Adequate normal bone formation and often a descending secondary canine were radiologically confirmed. Calcium substitutes offer significant advantages over other biomaterials as well as autologous bone grafts particularly in the primary alveolar cleft reconstruction. Our study has shown for the first time that teeth can erupt through this material, which turns into a normal functioning bone in the alveolar ridge.     

唇腭裂患者牙槽突裂植骨区牙移入的临床观察

目的:探讨牙槽突裂植骨区牙移入的可行性及牙移入的方式,评价移入牙的牙槽骨支持率和移植骨高度变化。方法:选取唇腭裂伴牙槽突裂患者10例,行牙槽突裂自体髂骨植骨术后,分别拍摄植骨后3个月(T1)及牙移入植骨区后(T2)的根尖片,观察牙移入植骨区的情况,测量T1和T2阶段移入牙的牙槽骨支持率,采用SPSS17.0软件包对测量数据进行配对t检验,并参照Bergland四分法评价移植骨的高度变化。结果:①牙整体移入植骨区,牙槽骨支持率为(89.85±2.51)%(T1)和(90.22±2.44)%(T2),牙移入植骨区后的牙槽骨支持率与植骨后3个月的牙槽骨支持率无显著差异(P>0.05)。②移植牙槽骨的高度在牙移入前后无显著变化。结论:唇腭裂患者植骨后,可将裂隙邻近的牙移入植骨区,获得良好的牙槽骨支持。牙的移入有助于维持移植骨高度,提高植骨的成功率。     

Nasoalveolar molding and gingivoperiosteoplasty versus alveolar bone graft: an outcome analysis of costs in the treatment of unilateral cleft alveolus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the financial impact of two treatment approaches to the unilateral cleft alveolus. The recently advocated nasoalveolar molding (NAM; and gingivoperiosteoplasty (GPP; at the time of lip repair were compared with the traditional approach of secondary alveolar bone graft. DESIGN: The records of all patients (n = 30) with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus treated by a single surgeon during 1985 through 1988 were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 patients (n = 14) were treated by lip repair, primary nasal repair, and secondary alveolar bone graft prior to eruption of permanent dentition; group 2 patients (n = 16) were treated by NAM, GPP, lip repair, and primary nasal repair. Patients who required secondary alveolar bone graft after GPP were noted. The cost of treatment by each protocol was calculated in 1998 dollars. RESULTS: The average cost of treatment for a patient treated by lip repair, primary nasal repair, and secondary alveolar bone graft prior to eruption of permanent dentition was $22,744. Of the 16 patients treated by NAM, GPP, lip repair, and primary nasal repair, 10 required no further treatment of the unilateral cleft alveolus; six patients required secondary alveolar bone graft. The average per-patient treatment cost in this group was $19,745. The average cost savings of NAM and GPP, compared with alveolar bone graft is $2999. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of unilateral cleft alveolus by nasoalveolar molding and gingivoperiosteoplasty results in substantial cost savings, compared with treatment by secondary alveolar bone graft.     

Secondary alveolar bone grafting using milled cranial bone graft: a retrospective study of a consecutive series of 100 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of secondary bone grafting of alveolar clefts using milled cranial bone graft. PATIENTS: The study included a consecutive series of 100 patients who were operated on between 1986 and 1995 by a single senior surgeon. MEASUREMENTS: The patients were divided into four groups; (1) unilateral alveolar cleft or (2) bilateral alveolar cleft, (3) before eruption of the canine teeth or (4) after eruption. Follow-up ranged from a minimum of 12 months to 10 years, and evaluation included a physical examination, medical photography, orthodontic reports, and a panorex X-ray and/or a three-dimensional computed tomography scan of the maxilla produced using Denta-scan software. Patient outcomes were judged to be good, acceptable, or poor. Patients who developed any fistula or required regrafting were defined as poor outcomes. RESULTS: The combined good and acceptable outcomes represented 83% of the entire consecutive series. These two groups were defined as successful outcomes. In patients with unilateral and bilateral clefts who were under 12 years old, the success rate was 90% and 88%, respectively. In patients grafted following full canine eruption (>12 years old), success rate decreased to 83% in patients with unilateral and 66% in bilateral clefts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of milled cranial bone graft, which produces a stable closure of the alveolar cleft with good contour and support for adjacent tooth eruption. Our data further support the conclusion by others that outcomes of early secondary grafting are superior to delayed grafting. The experience presented here, including the success rate, ease of harvesting, and minimal morbidity, makes the cranium our preferred donor site for alveolar cleft grafting.