OBJECTIVE

The risk of maxillary permanent canine retention is elevated in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP). This study compared this risk in 10 ± 1 year-old patients with unilateral CLP (UCLP) who underwent or not early maxillary bone grafting at the age of 6 ± 1 years.

METHODS

Retrospective, controlled monocentric and observational study with the following inclusion criteria: patients with UCLP, isolated cleft, pre-surgery orthodontic maxillary expansion, same surgical protocol, same surgical team. The risk of maxillary canine retention was evaluated using a dental panoramic radiograph, on the basis of the canine root development stage and of the angle (> or <45°) between the main axis of the maxillary canine and a virtual reference axis parallel to the medial sagittal axis.

RESULTS

The impaction risk at the age of 10 was of 14.29% (4/28) for the group who underwent early bone grafting and 21.88% (7/32) for the group without early grafting (p = 0.45). Permanent lateral incisor agenesis and the patient's sex did not change this risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Early alveolar bone grafting does not significantly change the risk of permanent maxillary canine retention at 10. Long-term followup of a larger population is needed to confirm this result.