Method of orthodontic expansion, lengthening and maintaining a normalised upper dental arch in cases of congenital cleft lip and palate during the transitional dentition period prior to bone grafting of the alveolar ridge

AIM. The aim of this study was to improve the effectiveness of complex therapy for children with congenital cleft lip and palate during the mixed dentition period prior to maxillary alveolar bone grafting by developing an orthodontic treatment method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The developed method was applied at the Dental Clinical Center of the Republic Hospital No. 1 – National Center of Medicine (Yakutsk, Russian Federation) in 101 patients aged 6–7 years who underwent cheiloplasty and uranoplasty between 2007 and 2025 prior to bone grafting.

RESULTS. The method was applied after the eruption of the central incisors, before the formation and eruption of the permanent canine on the cleft side. This method ensures a fixed, normal position of all permanent and deciduous teeth, including those bordering the alveolar ridge cleft, creating optimal conditions for bone grafting of the maxillary alveolar ridge. The developed orthodontic treatment method ensures a fixed, normal position of all permanent and deciduous teeth in the dental arch, including those bordering the alveolar ridge cleft, and also creates favorable conditions for proper jaw growth and development.

CONCLUSIONS. The use of the proposed orthodontic treatment method promotes optimal restoration of dental and jaw function and enables timely and efficient implementation of comprehensive medical and social measures aimed at restoring the anatomical integrity of oral organs and tissues, as well as the child’s social adaptation.

1. Arsenina O.I., Malashenkova E.I. Optimization of orthodontic treatment patients with clefts of lip, alveolus and palate (clap) before and after autogenous bone grafting. Orthodontia. 2012;(1):28–37. (In Russ.)

2. Bimbas E.S., Blokhina S.I., Menshikova E.V., Ershova O.Yu. Application of modern technologies in complex rehabilitation with congenital cleft of upper lip, alveolar ridge and palate. Actual Problems in Dentistry. 2018;14(4):71–76. https://doi.org/10.18481/2077-7566-2018-14-4-71-76

3. Postnikov M.A., Vorozheykina N.A., Karpov A.N., Seryogin A.S. Rehabilitation problem of patients with congenital cleft lip and palate in Samara Region. Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Prophylaxis. 2019;19(1):15–20. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33925/1683-3031-2019-19-69-15-20

4. Beaty T.H., Marazita M.L., Leslie E.J. Genetic factors influencing risk to orofacial clefts: today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. F1000Res. 2016;5:2800. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.9503.1

5. Ershova O.Yu., Dolgopolova G.V., Blokhina S.I. The technological process of provision of combined medical assistance to patients with alveolar cleft at the stages of preparation, surgical treatment, and postoperative rehabilitation. Russian Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2017;21(5):258–261. (In Russ.)

6. Ershova O.Ju., Dolgopolova G.V. The algorithm is a comprehensive training and treatment of patients with cleft alveolar bone. System Integration in Health Care. 2017;(2):40–44. (In Russ.) Available at: https://sys-int.ru/sites/default/files/sys-int-32-40-44.pdf (accessed: 11.01.2026).

7. Mundra L.S., Lowe K.M., Khechoyan D.,Y. Alveolar bone graft timing in patients with cleft lip & palate. J Craniofac Surg. 2022;33(1):206–210. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000007890

8. Karachunskiy G.M., Sipkin A.M. Tonkikh-Podolskaya O.A. Use of various osteoplastic materials in osteoplasty of alveolar bone among patients with congenital gaps of the upper lip, alveolar bone and palate. International Research Journal. 2017;(10-2):22–31. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.23670/IRJ.2017.64.072

9. Hwang M., Huang T., Engelstad M.E., Tollefson T.T. Alveolar cleft reconstruction and orthodontic management of patients with cleft lip-palate. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2025;33(4):529–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsc.2025.07.001

10. Taalaybekov N.T., Eshiev A.M. Statistics on the birth rate of children with congenital malformations and the use of modern technologies in rehabilitation. Molodoi uchenyi. 2016;(3):310–312. (In Russ.) Available at: https://moluch.ru/archive/107/25592 (accessed: 11.01.2026)