title: Alveolar bone morphology in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate in the mixed dentition: cone beam computed tomography evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the thickness and level of alveolar bone around the teeth adjacent to the cleft by means of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate prior to bone graft surgery and orthodontic intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 10 patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (five boys and five girls) in the mixed dentition. The mean age was 9.5 years, and all subjects showed a G3 interarch relationship according to the Bauru index. The thickness of alveolar bone surrounding the maxillary incisors and the maxillary canines was measured in CBCT axial section using the software iCAT Xoran System. The distance between the alveolar bone crest and the cement-enamel junction (CEJ) was measured in cross sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tomography images showed a thin alveolar bone plate around teeth adjacent to clefts. No bone dehiscence was observed in teeth adjacent to clefts during the mixed dentition. A slight increase in the distance between the alveolar bone crest and the CEJ was observed in the mesial and lingual aspects of canines adjacent to cleft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with BCLP in the mixed dentition, teeth adjacent to the alveolar cleft are covered by a thin alveolar bone plate. However, the level of alveolar bone crest around these teeth seems to be normal, and no bone dehiscence was identified at this age.
authors: Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil. dgarib@uol.com.br
authors: Daniela Gamba
authors: DG
authors: Garib
authors: Marília Sayako
authors: MS
authors: Yatabe
authors: Terumi Okada
authors: TO
authors: Ozawa
authors: Omar Gabriel da Silva
authors: OG
authors: Filho
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male