Intermediate bone grafting of alveolar clefts

During the five year period 1980 to 1985 bone grafting was performed in 37 cleft patients before the eruption of the canine tooth (group IBG) and in 30 patients after the eruption of the canine tooth (group SGB). The initial healing was more favourable in the IBG group. In 72.5% of the clefts oro-nasal fistulae were present preoperatively. In all cases the fistulae were successfully closed. In the IBG group with orthodontic closure of the gap in the dental arch the interdental bone height in the grafted area was more than 75% of normal bone height in all clefts. In group SBG this situation was found in only 66% of the bone-grafted areas. There seems to be a clear relation between the age or the developmental stage of the canine tooth on the one hand and the possibility of orthodontic closure of the gap in the dental arch and good interdental bone height on the other hand. This also leads to the suggestion that if bone grafting to the alveolar cleft is required the operation should be performed before the eruption of the canine tooth on the cleft side.