Bone grafting
Description:
If your baby’s cleft affected the jaw bone behind the upper lip, a gap in the bone beneath the gum may remain. This can prevent second teeth coming through in the correct way and can affect the shape of the nose.
Things to talk about:
- Are there any other options for donor sites, synthetic bone, etc.?
- Who does this procedure?
- How long is the stay in hospital?
- What post-surgical care is required?
Important information:
- Timing of the bone graft is decided by doing a dental x-ray. The bone graft is carried out before the canine (eye) teeth grow through. This is generally between the ages of 8 and 11.
- Typically a course of orthodontic treatment is required 6 months prior to the surgery.
- The bone is generally sourced from your child’s hip bone.
- Usually a mouth rinse and antibiotic is prescribed after this procedure.
- Sometimes during the healing process small chips of bone may loosen and come out painlessly.
- After the operation your child will feel more pain from the hip than the mouth wound, though he/she will be up and about one day after the operation.
- Surgeons often require your child to stop contact sport for 6 weeks after surgery.
