J.Hard Tissue Biology Vol. 16(2):87-90,2007 Original Clinical Investigation of Dental Implant Reconstruction for Grafted Alveolar Cleft Patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of endosseous implants for management of grafted alveolar cleft. Four patients (1 male and 3 female; mean age 26.6 years; age ranging from 21.5 to 30.4 years at first implant surgery) with unilateral cleft lip and palate were evaluated. All patients received autogenous particulate cancellous bone and marrow graft (PCBM) to close the alveolar cleft. After bone bridge formation, implant treatment was performed. All patients with insufficient alveolar bone height, chin or ramus of mandible bone, onlay grafting was performed 4 months before implant installment. A total of 5 implants were placed in the grafted alveoli. The length of implants ranged from 10.0 to 13.0 mm. The follow-up period ranged from 2.2 to 4.1 years after implant placement. The clinical result was acceptable in all patients. The survival rate of implants was 100%. Implant treatment for grafted alveolar cleft was studied and the outcome of treatment was acceptable.