ABSTRACT
The osseous closure of alveolar clefts is an integral component of a comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with cleft lip and palate and has assumed an essential position in the reconstruction of cleft deformity. Our study consists of 35 patients aged between 7 and 11 years who received secondary bone grafting of their cleft alveolus over a 30 month period from July 1999 to December 2003. There were 22 (62.9%) males and 13 (37.1%) females. In 25 cases, bone graft was harvested from the iliac crest and in 10 others, from the mandibular symphysis. A total number of 41 osteoplasties was performed in the 35 patients. Twenty osteoplasties maintained an alveolar height up to 75% and approximately that number showed resorption varying between 50% and 75%. There was no case of complete resorption of graft. There were no serious periodontal pockets found. In all cases, the wound healed well, and there was no complication. Our experience demonstrates that secondary alveolar bone grafting is an efficacious method of rehabilitating patients with alveolar clefts.
