The effects of alveolar grafting on the development of the craniofacial complex have been reported by numerous investigators. The reported results vary in the literature from significant to very little impediment of maxillary growth. The present work evaluates and compares facial form at age six years in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patients treated with presurgical orthopedic correction and primary reconstruction with (1) primary bone grafts (n = 14), (2) gingivoperiosteoplasty (n = II), or (3) without alveolar grafting procedures at the time of lip repair (n = 13). The cohort groups were analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOV A). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the three groups for only one of the 12 parameters analyzed. The primary bone grafted group demonstrated less vertical descent-of the anterior maxilla compared to the gingivoperiosteoplasty and non-grafted groups (P = .0027).

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