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.
