Cleft Palate Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cleft Palate, including details on causes, surgery, treatment.

Dental implants in patients with orofacial clefts: a long-term follow-up study.

Kramer FJ, Baethge C, Swennen G, Bremer B, Schwestka-Polly R, Dempf R

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, University Hospital, D-37099 Goettingen, Germany. franz-josef.kramer@med.uni-goettingen.de

Aim of this study was to determine the success of implants that were inserted in patients with cleft of the lip, alveolus and palate (CLAP) and to identify prognosis-relevant factors. In a prospective evaluation, 75 implants inserted in combination with bone grafting at cleft sites of 45 patients were examined. The observation period extended 5.5 years in average (minimum 1.5, maximum 11.3 years). Implant success was evaluated clinically and radiographically and was compared to age- and gender-matched control groups. Statistic assessment included Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Log rank tests and Cox regression analysis. In total, 10 implants were lost in 8 patients, resulting in an implant survival rate of 82.2% at the end of the observation period. Patient-related parameters of age, gender or type of cleft had no significant influence. The length of an implant was significantly related to an improved survival rate (P<0.01). Implant survival was less in CLAP patients when compared to implant insertions in a non-cleft control group, but improved when compared to patients with bone grafting for other indications. It is concluded that implants combined with bone grafting can offer a reliable alternative in patients with CLAP.

Published 13 September 2005 in Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 34(7): 715-21.
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