title: Cone beam computed tomography in the assessment of alveolar bone grafting in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the treatment outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to reveal needs for improvement in surgical technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT images taken 6 months after SABG of 35 patients were analysed. Vertical and horizontal bone supports of the grafted bone at three levels of the roots of the adjacent teeth were classified, the height of the nasal floor was compared with the unaffected side, and the inter- and intraexaminer reproducibility of these evaluations was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The grafted bone filled the defect in all three vertical measurement levels in 34 per cent. The labiopalatal thickness of the grafted bone was good in at least one-third of the root length in 66 per cent and fair in 34 per cent. Typically, the bone graft was deficient in the apical and palatal direction. Clear asymmetry in the nasal floor was found in 72 per cent. Kappa values indicated excellent agreement for all but one measured parameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a preliminary study involving only a limited number of study subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed mainly a good or fair treatment outcome. Deficiency of the bone graft was observed mostly in the apical and palatal areas of the defect. Asymmetry of the nasal floor was observed frequently. Careful insertion of the bone graft towards the palatal and apical direction of the cleft is recommended.
authors: *Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, anni.suomalainen@hus.fi.
authors: Anni
authors: A
authors: Suomalainen
authors: **Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Åberg
authors: ***Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Centre, Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Rautio
authors: ***Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Centre, Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors: Kirsti
authors: K
authors: Hurmerinta
mesh_terms: D064728:Alveolar Bone Grafting / Q000379:methods*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome