A Case of Implant Treatment Using Bone Distraction Osteogenesis for Cleft Lip and Palate

<p>Dental implant treatment for congenitally missing teeth in patients with cleft lip and palate is often performed after cleft bone grafting. We report the case of a cleft lip and palate patient with jaw deformity who underwent dental implant treatment combined with alveolar osteotomy, resulting in good functional and esthetic recovery.</p><p>The patient was a 38-year-old woman. She had undergone lip and palatoplasty after birth for cleft lip and palate, and at age 18 underwent a sagittal split ramus osteotomy. However, she had not received treatment for the cleft jaw. She was referred to our department in September 2016 for dental implant treatment for the cleft jaw. Due to the diagnosis of left-sided cleft jaw and maxillary retroversion, an alveolar osteotomy of the left first premolar was performed during the preoperative orthodontic period to close the cleft jaw and to secure space for placing the dental implant. The dental implant was placed in the space secured by the bone distraction, and Le Fort I osteotomy was performed after preoperative orthodontic treatment. In April 2019, after postoperative orthodontic correction, the final superstructure was placed. In April 2022, the jaw position was stable, the lateral view was improved, and the dental implant was in good condition.</p><p>The use of temporary bone lengthening after alveolar osteotomy to close the cleft jaw and to secure the dental implant placement space is useful. Soft tissue formed around the temporary bone distraction area and good cleanability of the dental implants was established.</p>