Purpose: To evaluate the effect of cleft width and the pre-surgical position of the permanent cuspid, on the success of secondary alveolar bone grafts, using preoperative and post-operative radiographs.
Methodology: A total of 20 cases treated with secondary alveolar bone grafting for alveolar clefts were included in the study. Pre-surgical maxillary occlusal radiograph was used to determine the cleft width. Canine position was assessed by marking 6 points on a pre-surgical intra oral periapical radiograph. Alveolar bone contour and the success of bone grafts were determined using 11 points marked on post-operative periapical radiographs taken after a minimum follow-up of 6 months.
Results: Linear regression analysis of pre-operative cleft width and pre-operative position of the permanent cuspid were carried out on the bone graft success which was determined using post-surgical periapical radiographs. P < 0.05 was set. The results obtained had weak correlations and were statistically not significant.
Conclusion: We concluded that the success of the alveolar bone graft has minimal or no relation to the pre-operative width of the cleft or the position of the permanent cuspid at the time of grafting.
Keywords: Canine position; Cleft width; Graft success; Secondary alveolar bone grafting.