Manuscript Submission/Review Call for Reviewers Articles in Press Search Past Issues Current Issue Journal Home Editorial Office Editorial Board Cleft Palate-Cranofacial Foundation Contact Us Sponsors Cleft Palate-Cranofacial Foundation Editorial Office ACAP Homepage Cleft Palate-Cranofacial Foundation
[Full-text Article] [PDF Version]
[PubMed Citation] [Related Articles in PubMed]

doi: 10.1597/06-095.1
The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal: Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 444–447.

Long-Term Study of Dental Implants Placed Into Alveolar Cleft Sites
Yoshiro Matsui, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Kohsuke Ohno, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Akiko Nishimura, D.D.S.
Tatsuo Shirota, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Syutaku Kim, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Hajime Miyashita, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Dr. Matsui is Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. Dr. Ohno is Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Japan. Dr. Nishimura is resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Japan. Dr. Shiroto is Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Japan. Dr. Kim is Associate Professor, Department of Geriatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Japan. Dr. Miyashita is Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Japan

Submitted June 2006; Accepted October 2006.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term prognosis of dental implants placed into cleft sites after bone grafting in a relatively large number of cases in order to clarify the usefulness of the modality.

Patients: Forty-seven patients with unilateral (dental, n = 32) or bilateral (n = 15) clefts of the alveolar process were included in this study.

Interventions: A total of 71 implants, including smooth- or rough-surface titanium, and hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implants, were placed after bone grafting from the anterior iliac crest and/or mandible. The placed implants were 13 to 15 mm in length.

Main outcome: The follow-up period was from 21 to 120 months (average = 60 months). Implant survival rates were calculated as cumulative survival. Marginal bone loss (MBL) from the implant shoulder was examined, with statistical analyses performed on the influence of simultaneous bone graft and surface characteristics.

Results: At the end of the clinical follow-up period, all implants except one were in situ and stable. Thus, the overall survival rate was 98.6% at the end of the first year and remained the same until the end of observation. Titanium implants with smooth surfaces had the lowest MBL with almost negligible regression slope, although some implants had relatively high MBL by the end of the first year.

Conclusions: Implant therapy in the cleft site offers a reliable option for patients. Particular attention should be focused preoperatively on whether bone volume can provide primary implant stability.

KEY WORDS:alveolar cleft, bone grafting, dental rehabilitation, osseointegrated implant

© 2007, The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association