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.