Alveolar transportation through bone anchorage and sliding mechanics

Abstract

The reconstruction of hard and soft tissues in craniofacial anomalies is a great challenge in clinical practice. For a longtime, grafts have been the technique of choice in patients with cleft lip and palate; however, when the soft tissue that surrounds the cleft is insufficient to obtain adequate closure, failures have been reported. Alveolar transport has been applied for the closure of oronasal communication with adequate bone quality and quantity, allowing implant placement and fi nal restoration. An innovative technique of alveolar transport with a curved trajectory is hereby presented respecting arch shape, unlike the techniques previously described, through a bone anchoring system and fi xed orthodontic appliances with sliding mechanics resulting in a predictable and successful treatment.