Effect of Timing of Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting on Maxillary Incisor Development in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Objective

Secondary alveolar bone grafting (sABG) is typically performed between 9 and 12 years of age in patients with cleft lip and palate, prior to canine eruption. Recent studies have proposed synchronizing sABG with the eruption of maxillary central incisors to prevent compromised development. However, evidence that late sABG leads to increased incisor abnormalities is lacking. We aimed to investigate the impact of sABG timing on maxillary incisor development.

Design

Crown size, root length, and crown-to-root ratio were measured retrospectively on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of maxillary central and lateral incisors. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the age at which sABG was performed: early (6–7 years), middle (8–9 years), and late (>10 years).

Results

CBCT images of 101 patients (38 females, 63 males) were analyzed. No significant differences in crown size or root length/shape of central and lateral incisors were observed based on the timing of sABG. However, differences were noted between teeth located at the cleft margin versus those that were not. Central incisors at the cleft margin had narrower buccal–lingual crown widths, shorter crown lengths, and a higher rate of root shape abnormalities compared to teeth not at the margin.

Conclusions

Late sABG was not associated with a higher rate of maxillary central incisor anomalies compared to early sABG.