Placement of endosteal implants combined with chin bone onlay graft for dental reconstruction in patients with grafted alveolar clefts

Endosteal implants were inserted into grafted alveoli after particulate can cellous bone and marrow grafting in seven patients with cleft lip or palate in conjunction with simultaneous chin bone onlay grafting. In these patien ts, the alveolar bone height of the bony bridge was insufficient when evalu ated by both computed tomographic and periapical radiographic images. The a ge at first implant surgery ranged from 14 to 28 years. Although four of th e seven patients had an uneventful course, three had wound dehiscence, and in all but one of them the exposed chin bone underwent partial or total nec rosis. Ultimately all seven implants integrated into the bone, and the alve olar bone height was increased in all but one patient. The results indicate that chin bone onlay grafting with simultaneous implant insertion is usefu l in patients with cleft lip or palate with insufficient alveolar bone heig ht.