Abstract
This case report presents the short-term results of the alveolar bone grafting performed at the age of six years five months, the erupting stage of the upper left central incisor in a female with left-sided complete cleft lip and palate. Approximately 5.5 grams of autogenous particulate marrow and cancellous bone (PMCB) harvested from the anterior iliac crest was transplanted. The average alveolar cleft width of this patient was 12 mm. This case had happened to involve closed alveolar cleft using mucobuccal flap; therefore, attached gingiva was insufficient around the alveolar cleft preoperatively. Bony bridging of alveolar cleft was almost completed and trabecullar pattern of the grafted area was normal radiographically three months after surgery. Since the volume of grafted PMCB was thought to be insufficient compared to the bony defect, the nasal border of the bony bridge was slightly decreased. The interdetal alveolar bone height was normal. Forward-downward growth of maxilla was observed on roentgenocephalometric analysis over a three-year period after the bone graft. It was suggested that secondary bone grafting during the eruptive stage of the permanent upper central incisors was beneficial.
