Evaluation of alveolar bone grafting using limited cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bone resorption of alveolar bone grafting using LCBCT scan.

STUDY

DESIGN

This was a prospective study. Nineteen patients with alveolar cleft were divided into 2 groups depending on the spontaneous eruption of the permanent tooth. All patients underwent alveolar bone grafting with iliac crest cancellous bone. LCBCT scans were taken 1 month and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

LCBCT scans obtained the length, width, and height of the bone grafts. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the bone grafts enabled a valuable objective assessment of the graft volume. The resorption ratio was 10.4% when the permanent tooth erupted spontaneously into the graft. In the group with absence of the permanent tooth, the resorption ratio was 36.6%.

CONCLUSION

LCBCT scan and 3D reconstruction is a promising method for evaluation of the outcome of alveolar bone grafts. Bone grafts showed a high grade of resorption in patients lacking permanent tooth eruption.