ISSN : 0376-4672
It is difficult to perform orthodontic treatment for cleft lip and palate patient. Although there are many orthodontic appliances to expand narrowed maxillary arch, results are rarely successful and the possibility of relapse is increased due to severe scars. Self-ligating bracket, recently used in orthodontic treatment, suggests solution of crowding by expansion of dental arches. Light and continuous force could apply for orthodontic movement due to characteristic low friction of self ligating bracket, which gives expansion force until dentition reaches its new equilibrium position and it can be expressed as spontaneous lateral expansion with heavy labial tension. This kind of expansion force is thought to be a possibility of expanding the constricted maxillary arch of cleft lip and palate patient. Repositioning of the maxilla by Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy in case of severe maxillary deficiency, increases the possibility of relapse because of limitation in anterior movement and adaptation of soft tissue. In these cases, distraction osteogenesis(DO) can be applied for stable result. We report a case of cleft lip and palate patient with narrowed maxillary arch and maxillary deficiency using self ligating bracket and DO
Purpose : Anterior region is crucial area for esthetic implant restoration. However, the alveolar process undergoes atrophy after removal of teeth and creates unfavorable situation for implant installation. The knowledge of the thickness of alveolar bone is required to estimate and expect the bone resorption after extraction. The aim of this study is to measure facial, palatal and faciopalatal bone thickness on maxillary anterior teeth. Methods : Facial, palatal, and faciopalatal bone thickness were measured on the computed tomography (CT) images from 57 patients, using an image analyzer program (Ondemand 3DⓇ, Cybermed, Seoul, Korea). Results: The thickness of facial bone in incisors, lateral incisors and canines were less than 1㎜. The thickness of facial bone increased from anterior to posterior region and the thickness of palatal bone increased from posterior to anterior region. Conclusion : The measurement can be used for planning implant surgery before extraction. CT has are clinically useful in the evaluation of thickness of alveolar bone.
