Long-term follow-up of dental implants placed in a grafted alveolar cleft: evaluation of alveolar bone height

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Grafted bone was maintained in alveolar clefts after implant insertion.

Main

Takahashi T, Tetsuji I et al. Oral Surg 2008; 105: 297–302

Implants placed in grafted alveolar bone clefts may simplify treatment of these patients. One question on which there is little evidence is whether the implant bone height is maintained in these circumstances. This study evaluated 23 implants in 21 Japanese patients who had received iliac crest grafts in 1993-1995.

Grafts were placed at a mean age of 14 yrs (range 9-31), and implants 5 yrs (3-10) later. Follow-up of implants was 8.6 yrs (7-9). In 1 patient 2 implants were lost, 3 were in temporary restoration because of orthodontic treatment, and 1 patient had dropped out. Five patients had difficulty, but implants were maintained. In 19 patients 20 implants were retained, in 2 alveolar height was reduced, and in 14 it was maintained up to 6 yrs, and all these implants were functioning well 7-9 yrs after treatment.