The influence of bone grafting age on dental abnormalities and alveolar bone height in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Individuals with total unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate, (UCLAP), bone grafted at three different ages were compared with regard to dental abnormalities and alveolar bone height in the cleft area. The primary groups, bone grafted prior to one year of age had fewer supernumerary teeth in the cleft area and a lower frequency of missing and severely malformed central incisors than the other groups. The early secondary group, bone grafted after eruption of the permanent incisors, showed the highest frequency of normal lateral incisors and the most favourable alveolar bone height in the cleft area. The secondary group, bone grafted after eruption of the canines, showed the highest frequency of missing teeth outside the cleft area. Early secondary bone grafting, after eruption of the permanent incisors and before eruption of the canines, seems to be preferable.