• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-61
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• 2004

The closure of a wide alveolar cleft and fistula in cleft patients and the reconstruction of a maxillary dentoalveolar defect in bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients are challenging for both orthodontists and oromaxillofacial surgeons. It is due to the difficulty in achieving complete closure by using local attached gingiva (palatal flap) and the great volume of bone required for the graft. In this article, the authors used bifocal distraction-compression osteosynthesis(BDCO) to create a segment of new alveolar bone and attached gingiva for the complete approximation of a wide alveolar cleft/fistula and the reconstruction of a maxillary dentoalveolar defect. Since the alveoli and gingivae on both ends of the cleft were approximated after BDCO, the need for extensive alveolar bone grafting was eliminated. It also could create new alveolar bone and gingiva for orthodontic tooth movement and implant.