Citation: Wiedel A-P, Svensson H, Hellén-Halme K, Ghaffari H and Becker M. Two-Dimensional Intra-Oral
Radiographs Compared to Three-Dimensional CBCT at Six-Month Post-Operative Evaluation of Secondary
Bone-Grafting in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate. J Dent App. 2021; 7(1): 451-455.
J Dent App - Volume 7 Issue 1 - 2021
ISSN : 2381-9049 | www.austinpublishinggroup.com
Wiedel et al. © All rights are reserved
Journal of Dental Applications
Open Access
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a
complementary Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in patients with
Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) after alveolar bone-grafting to clefts gave substantial
additional information, and particularly whether such new information had any
implications for the further care of the patients.
Methods: Seventeen children, with complete CLP, 10 unilateral and seven
bilateral clefts, in all 24 clefts, were evaluated six months after secondary alveolar
bone-grafting with two-dimensional intra-oral radiographs complemented with
CBCT. The mean age at bone-grafting was 8.8 years. Three different examiners
evaluated the radiographic documentation.
Results: The mean pre-operative cleft width was 5.8mm. In 15 of the 24
clefts the same interpretation was made on both two-dimensional radiographs
and CBCT. In the remaining nine clefts, CBCT added important information to
the treatment decision.
Conclusions: For the evaluation six months post-operatively of the success
of alveolar bone-grafting to clefts, the two-dimensional radiograph should be
complemented with CBCT unless the two-dimensional radiograph without doubt
reveals open residual cleft and clinical fndings indicate graft failure.
Keywords: Alveolar cleft; Secondary bone-grafting; Orthodontic; Two-
Dimensional radiographs; Three-dimensional radiographs; CBCT
Introduction
For alveolar crest repair in patients with clefs, Secondary
Alveolar Bone-Grafing (SABG), which was frst described by Boyne
and Sands in 1972, has become the golden standard and is one of the
mandatory surgical procedures [1,2]. Alveolar bone-grafing closes
oro-nasal residual clefs, stabilizes the maxillary arch, provides bone
support for clef-adjacent teeth and facilitates orthodontic up righting
of teeth [3].
To evaluate the result of alveolar bone-grafing radiographically,
two-dimensional periapical or occlusal intra-oral radiographs are used
widely [2,3]. One of the most common indexes for two-dimensional
radiographs in assessing bone graf height is the Bergland index [2].
Lately the three-dimensional radiographs in the form of Cone-Beam
Computed Tomography (CBCT) have become more widely used [4-
6]. Measurements using CBCT for evaluation of the results of alveolar
clef repair afer alveolar bone-grafing have been suggested, namely
the vertical height of the bone, the buccal-palatal thickness of the bone,
and the nasal foor or nasal foor height diference [5,6]. Extensive
bone resorption has been found in the buccal-palatal dimension of
the alveolar portion of the transplant visible in CBCT analyses but is
ofen underestimated in two-dimensional radiographs [7].
Research Article
Two-Dimensional Intra-Oral Radiographs Compared to
Three-Dimensional CBCT at Six-Month Post-Operative
Evaluation of Secondary Bone-Grafting in Patients with
Cleft Lip and Palate
Wiedel A-P
1
*, Svensson H
2
, Hellén-Halme K
3
,
Ghaffari H
4,5
and Becker M
2
1
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Skane
University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
2
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skane
University Hospital and Department of Clinical Sciences
in Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
3
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Odontology,
Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
4
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Skane
University Hospital Malmö, Sweden
5
Department of Plastic Surgery, St George’s Hospital,
London, Great Britain
*Corresponding author: Anna-Paulina Wiedel,
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jan
Waldenströmsgata 18, Skane University Hospital, Malmö,
20502, Sweden
Received: April 30, 2021; Accepted: May 22, 2021;
Published: May 29, 2021
Two-dimensional intra-oral radiographs have constituted the
clinical routine for many years at our clef centre. However, we had a
few patients in whom an evaluation also using CBCT was performed at
the six-month post-operative evaluation. Te reason for the extended
investigation with CBCT was the uncertainty in the evaluation of
the intra-oral radiographs according to the healing process. Te aim
of this study was therefore to investigate whether a complementary
CBCT in these patients gave substantial additional information, and
particularly whether such new information had any implications for
the further care of the patients. A secondary aim was to evaluate other
potential benefts of CBCT at this evaluation.
Material and Methods
Patients
Altogether, 24 clefs in 17 children, (14 boys, three girls) with
complete CLP and a mean age of 8.8 years (range 7.9 -10.5 years) at
secondary alveolar bone-grafing surgery were eligible for evaluation
at the CLP care-centre, Skane University Hospital in Malmo,
Sweden. Ten clefs were unilateral CLP, with nine lef-sided and one
right-sided. Seven clefs were bilateral CLP. Inclusion criteria was
patients with CLP, bone grafed to the clef area and with both two-
dimensional intra-oral radiograph and CBCT for evaluation of bone