Orthodontic Treatment as Determinant of Alveolar Cleft Bone Grafting Success

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between orthodontic treatment and success of alveolar cleft bone grafting performed in oral and maxillofacial surgery department of Shariati hospital at least one year after operation.Materials and Methods: The patient’s records and their post-operative radiographs were studied to assess their age, gender, cleft type (unilateral or bilateral), grafting time (secondary, tertiary), orthodontic treatment (No, Yes) and height of bony bridge. The success was defined as a proportion of at least ¾ for the remaining bone in new radiograph to post-operative bone bridge height. Results: Mean age of the patients was ۱۸ years with a range of ۱۰ to ۲۹ years. From the total patients, ۵۲% (n=۲۸) were male and ۴۸% (n=۲۶) were female, ۵۴% had unilateral and ۴۶% had bilateral alveolar cleft. Among the patients, ۲۰ cases (۳۷%) had secondary and ۳۴ had tertiary bone grafting. In general, ۵۹% (n=۳۲) of the patients, had successful alveolar bone grafting. Out of the total ۵۴ patients, ۲۸ cases (۵۲%) were under supervision and treatment of orthodontist. Logistic regression model showed that presence of orthodontic treatment was associated with higher graft success. Conclusion: Treatment of Cleft lip and palate needs comprehensive surgical and orthodontic management and all the patients must be under supervision and treatment of orthodontists to take benefit of the surgical treatment.

Keywords:

Alveolar cleft , Bone Graft , success , Secondary graft , Tertiary graft , Unilateral , Bilateral , Orthodontic Treatment