Assessment of Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite Versus Autogenous Bone Grafts : A Comparative Clinical Study in Alveolar Cleft Grafting

Alveolar cleft is the most common congenital bone defect. Since its introduction in 1972, alveolar bone grafting (ABG) has been widely accepted to correct alveolar bone defect in most cleft centres.The purpose of ABG is to restore the dental arch continuity, stabilize the maxilla, close the oronasal fistulae, facilitate subsequent orthodontic treatment, enhance nasal symmetry, establish better oral hygiene, limit growth disturbances, etc . Autologous bone grafting is the gold standard for treating alveolar clefts, with the iliac crest , bone being the most widely accepted donor site(Tan, Brogan et al. 1996.New bone graft substitutes have been devised in recent decades, such as demineralized bone matrix (DBM), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), calcium phosphate (CP), calcium sulfate (CS), hydroxyapatite (HA), highly purified bovine xenograft, and more, but clinical evidence of their efficacy varies among clinical and experimental studies [4] With the advent of new biomaterials, which may include or consist of allogenic bone source such as collagen membranes, hydroxyapatite crystals, tricalcium phosphate powder that has been increased consideration for their placement in the repair of alveolar clefts as well as other dental applications