The influence of alveolar bone grafting on the orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate.

The introduction of mixed dentition bone grafting of alveolar clefts means that the alveolar process can be fully restored, permitting adjacent teeth to migrate or be orthodontically moved into the grafted bone. Thus a complete dental arch can be obtained without prosthodontics in the great majority of patients. In addition, oral-nasal fistulae are closed, mucosal recesses eliminated (facilitating oral hygiene) and the long-term periodontal health of the teeth adjacent to the former cleft is improved. Alveolar bone grafting with subsequent orthodontic treatment, together with advances in dental materials, have contributed substantially to the care of patients with alveolar clefts, reducing the need for prosthodontic procedures and allowing completion of the dental treatment at an earlier age.