OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) on induction of ostegenesis in developmental bone clefts,and provide a basis for the use of GTR to repair bony clefts in cleft lip and palate patients.METHODS:The e-PTFE membrane was placed on the labial and lingual sides of the rabbit mandibular central fissure.A radiological and pathological study was performed to determine the healing of the fissure integration.RESULTS:The results showed that the bony cleft was completely integrated 4 weeks after placement of the barrier membrane.CONCLUSION:GTR is an effective approach to reconstruct bony cleft,and is likely to be used in repair of alveolar cleft and cleft palate.