Influence of Secondary Bone Grafting on Canine Eruption in Cleft Lip and Palate Patient s

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the eruption pattern of the cleft side canine concerning its position before eruption to the cleft in secondary bone grafted and non-grafted patients with cleft lip and palate. Materials and methods: This study includes 22 canines in 21 patients, who had received secondary bone grafting before canine eruption,17 canines in 16 patients without bone grafting, and 31 canines in non-cleft side as controls. Totally 37 cleft lip and palate patients (70 canines) were examined using panoramic radiographs taken at two stages, before and after canine eruption. According to canine position relative to the cleft site at pre-eruption stage subjects were divided into two groups; I) close to the cleft site, and II) distant from the cleft site. Canine angle, measured between the major axis of the canine and a straight line through both the lowest points of orbital fossa, canine angle change between two stages, and alveolar bone height after its eruption were evaluated. Results: 1. No significant differences were found between initial canine angles of grafted and non-grafted groups, however control group showed significant high angle compared to grafted (p<0.05) and non-grafted samples (p<0.01).2. While canines in grafted group erupted without significant angle change, canine angle increased significantly in non-grafted (p<0.01)and control groups (p<0.0001) through eruption.3. In group I, greater canine angle change was found in non-grafted samples than in grafted samples (p<0.05). However, in group II significant difference was not found between non-grafted and grafted samples.4. Concerning the alveolar height of canine after eruption, significant difference was not found between grafted and non-grafted samples in both group I and II. Conclusion: These results suggest that canine located near to the cleft (group I) erupts with the same angulation as it had before grafting in grafted samples, however in non-grafted samples it erupts with more vertical direction, guided by cortical bone. On the other hand, canine distant from the cleft site (group II) erupts with the same angulation change in non-grafted and grafted samples.