Objective: To retrospectively study alveolar autogenous bone grafting (AABG), the success rate and the factors influencing bone resorption after the surgery for the repair of alveolar cleft.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in a group of 108 alveolar cleft patients receiving alveolar bone grafts. The method of regression was used for analysis.
Results: The overall survival rate of AABG was 88%, clinical success rate was 60%. The major factors influencing bone resorption were: infection, age, type of cleft, functional stimulation and surgeon. The factors which did not influence bone resorption were: sex, type of surgery, teeth pulling during the surgery and the width of the cleft.
Conclusions: Surgery at the proper age of patients, orthodontic treatment before surgery, improvement of surgical skills, necessary functional stimulation and control of infection will improve the success rate of AABG.