A new clinical index scale for measuring secondary alveolar bone grafting success based on canine eruption

To develop a reproducible, reliable clinical index of alveolar bone grafting (ABG) outcome based on the eruption position of the cleft canine tooth and determine the association between eruption position and radiographic outcome at 6 months post-grafting.

Children with complete, non-syndromic, unilateral/bilateral cleft lip and palate in the West of Scotland were identified. Post-ABG radiographic outcome (Kindelan index) and canine eruption position in children with a cleft of the alveolus who had undergone ABG were documented. A Kindelan score was assigned to the 6-month post-bone-graft radiograph. Following canine tooth eruption, four-point clinical index scale (CIS) scores were assigned to maxillary occlusal images taken prior to commencement of definitive orthodontics; 1-canine eruption in alveolar crest, 2-canine eruption buccal to alveolar crest, 3-canine eruption palatal to alveolar crest, and 4-canine impaction. Intra and inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen and Fleiss kappa's, respectively. Duration of orthodontics treatment, number of orthodontic clinic visits, and clinical management of the cleft site space were noted.

Eighty-three patients representing 98 bone graft sites were identified. CIS scoring intra- and inter-rater reliability was 0.69-0.99 and 0.63-0.75, respectively. CIS score was associated with reduced visits (P = .015), months in orthodontics (P = .009), and likelihood of space closure (P = .006).

This is a retrospective study with small numbers but is comparative to other similar studies in the literature.

The CIS presented appears to be a reliable index of ABG outcome. It also demonstrates an association with the burden of orthodontic care post-cleft alveolar bone graft.