Periodontal evaluation of teeth in bone grafted regions in patients with unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate.

In 28 patients with unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate who were provided treatment that included bone grafting at an age of 8 to 13 years, periodontal conditions of teeth in the cleft region were monitored from a time point before bone grafting until the canine was fully erupted through the grafted region. Widths of keratinized and attached gingiva tended to increase between preoperative and postoperative examinations. Gingival recession was observed preoperatively for the tooth mesial to the cleft in 14 of the 28 patients. Postoperatively, only three of these patients showed recession. Improvements of the marginal bone level were observed both for teeth mesial and distal to the cleft. Canines having erupted through the grafted defect showed periodontal conditions similar to those of the contralateral canine. The findings demonstrate that treatment, which included osseous grafting before the eruption of the canine, resulted in satisfactory periodontal conditions for teeth in the cleft region.