THE CHIN AS A DONOR SITE IN EARLY SECONDARY OSTEOPLASTY - A RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL EVALUATION

26 unilateral cleft palate patients received an autogenous bicortical chin bone graft for early reconstruction of the alveolar process. In the evaluation of the donor site, 4 % of the anterior teeth showed a negative pulpal sensibility, less than 1 % a peri-apical granuloma and 12 % pulp canal obliteration. The tooth buds of the canines showed developmental disturbances in 6 %. Exposure of unerupted canines should be avoided, and a 5 mm safety margin is advised. Based on its architecture, topographic accessibility, minimal post-operative morbidity and absence of visible scars, the chin can be considered to be a very useful donor site in bone grafting procedures.