Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the clinical applicability of limited cone beam computed tomography (Dental 3D-CT) for assessment of bone-grafted alveolar cleft.
Patients and Methods
Seventeen bone bridges were examined after alveolar bone grafting in 13 patients with cleft lip and palate. All bone bridges, including cleft-adjacent teeth, were examined by plain radiography and the Dental 3D-CT imaging system.
Results
The plain radiographs showed the approximate condition of the bone bridge and cleft-adjacent teeth. The Dental 3D-CT images clearly showed precise three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the bone bridge, 3D relationships between the bone bridge and the roots of cleft-adjacent teeth, and their periodontal condition. In addition, the conditions surrounding dental implants installed in the bone bridge could be observed three-dimensionally.
Conclusions
The results indicate that the Dental 3D-CT imaging system is suitable for clinical assessment of alveolar bone grafting before and after installation of dental implants or orthodontic treatment of the cleft-adjacent teeth.
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