Bone Transport and Bone Graft Using Auto-Tooth Bone for Alveolar Cleft Repair

We herein report the application of a combination of maxillary bone transport and auto-tooth bone grafting for alveolar cleft repair using autogenous extracted teeth developed in Korea. A 9-year-old female patient suffering from unilateral cleft lip and palate was treated with this method. After sagittal interdental right-sided maxillary osteotomy was performed completely between #11 and #12 to the nasal floor, alveolar maxillary bone (#11, 21) was transported in the planned direction and the alveolar cleft was closed. At the end of the transporter activation period, soft tissue in the cleft was removed during so-called docking surgery using an electric knife for close bone contact at the docking site. We performed bone transporter removal and simultaneous auto-tooth bone grafting of the patient's supernumerary teeth to the docking site. Maxillary bone transport allowed for simultaneous correction of the nasal septal deviation, maxillary arch deformities, and malocclusion since the dental arch was expanded without donor sacrifice or soft tissue expansion. Auto-tooth bone grafting to the docking site allowed for repair of the bone defects of the nasal floor and alveolar cleft and resulted in a superior bone connection. A combination of maxillary bone transport and auto-tooth bone grafting to the docking site appears to be an effective approach for alveolar cleft repair.