"Distraction" of grafted alveolar bone in cleft case using endosseous implant

Presentation of a specific surgical technique of vertical alveolar ridge distraction performed on an alveolar bone graft 1 year after the primary grafting procedure designed to correct a labioalveolar cleft. The graft had not obtained the results desired and presented heavily scarred mucosal tissue.

A dental implant placed within the graft once it has been entirely freed by osteotomies functions as an endless screw. To avoid vascular risk, the alveolar bone graft is detached as a whole along its total height. Consequently, no bone remains above it to provide support for a conventional alveolar distractor. An osteosynthetic miniplate, fastened in a horizontal position beneath the nasal mucosae above the graft, is used to replace the missing bony support and to stabilize the implant, which activates the distraction process.

This study is based on our first clinical case with a follow-up of 18 months at present.

A vertical displacement of the entire graft was achieved, including its attached mucosal layer, which repositioned both bone and mucosa on a far better level in the cleft area. Thus, a normal length of abutment was obtained permitting prosthetic rehabilitation based on the same endosseous implant, which was left in place within the graft.

This technique may prove particularly helpful in certain cases in which a primary alveolar bone grafting procedure has produced borderline results. In such cases, on the one hand, neither the reasonably satisfactory volume of the bone graft itself nor the poor quality of its scarred mucosal tissue argue in favor of a secondary grafting procedure. On the other hand, it is impossible to resort to currently available alveolar distracters since our choice of techniques leaves no bone support above the graft.