Assessment of Maxillary Trabecular Bone Density in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients With Alveolar Clefts

Introduction: – This study aims to compare the maxillary trabecular bone densities on the cleft and noncleft sides of patients with alveolar clefts, and to evaluate differences compared with a healthy control group. Methods: – In this retrospective comparative study, maxillary trabecular bone densities were measured in 100 cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients and 100 healthy individuals matched demographically, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Results: – Cleft lip and palate patients exhibited significantly higher bone density on the cleft side (686.43±252.85 HU, P<0.05) compared with the noncleft side (398.54±189.17 HU). In addition, the overall maxillary bone density of CLP patients (542.48±265.39 HU) was significantly higher than that of the control group (438.61±192.40 HU, P<0.05). Conclusion: – This study demonstrates for the first time in the literature that CLP patients possess significantly higher maxillary trabecular bone density compared with the normal population, particularly on the cleft side. These findings may influence surgical planning and implant protocols for CLP patients.