2002 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 122-125
Although dental implant placement into a grafted alveolar cleft is a viable option for reconstruction in patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, the alveolar bone height is sometimes insufficient for implant placement. Here we report on a patient with bilateral cleft lip and palate who underwent vertical augmentation of a grafted alveolar cleft by means of distraction osteogenesis followed by implant placement. The patient, who had received a secondary bone graft to the alveolar cleft, was referred to us for prosthodontic treatment. However, the alveolar bone height was insufficient owing to resorption of the grafted bone. After vertical alveolar bone augmentation by means of an intraoral distraction device, a dental implant was placed into the distraction site 8 weeks after distraction. The final prosthesis was subsequently installed. Although the duration of follow-up is relatively short, the implant was osseointegrated, and the clinical outcome was unevenful. This treatment procedure permits dental restoration in patients who have a grafted alveolar cleft with insufficient alveolar bone height.
