European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Treatment of an alveolar defect in a case of cleft lip and palate remains an onerous task to cleft surgeons. Alveolar bone grafting using autogenous bone grafts, has unanimously remained the treatment of choice for closure of alveolar defect in almost all cleft centers around the world. However, this treatment option is far from ideal. The success rate of alveolar bone grafting exponentially decreases with the increase in the size of the defect. Complications like graft resorption, wound dehiscence and recurrence of fistulae make alveolar bone grafting unpredictable for large defects. Management of soft tissues in an alveolar cleft defect poses an equally arduous challenge. Closure of soft tissues under too much tension almost always gives way to wound dehiscence.