Peri-Implant Bone Loss Evaluation Around Dental Implants Placed into Alveolar Cleft Sites

Objectives: This study was to analyze factors that affect peri-implant bone loss around dental implants placed into alveolar cleft sites. Methods: Thirty-one patients with cleft lip and palate (total 46 implants) who underwent implant treatment following secondary bone graft to the alveolar cleft were included in this study. Evaluation at the peri-implant bone level was measured using standard X-ray images. Analysis of covariance was performed using the amount of periimplant bone loss as the objective variable and sex, cleft type, age at bone grafting of alveolar clefts, time since completion of implant treatment, type of implant, length of the implant, presence or absence of vestibuloplasty, and presence or absence of bone augmentation with simultaneous implant placement as the eight explanatory variables. Results: Of the eight explanatory variables, the factors that affected the amount of peri-implant bone resorption were sex, presence or absence of vestibuloplasty, and length of the implant. The amount of peri-implant bone resorption was greater in men than in women (p=0.004), and those that underwent vestibuloplasty also tended to have a greater amount of bone resorption (p=0.002). Conclusions: In implant treatment for alveolar cleft sites, a variety of factors that are not seen in non-cleft, individuals are intricately linked. Detailed analysis of factors that affect peri-implant bone loss is therefore needed in larger a subject sample in order to establish guidelines for implant treatment of alveolar cleft sites.