A 5-year post-operative review of secondary alveolar bone grafting in the Yorkshire region.

The objective of this study was to determine the quality of secondary alveolar bone grafting in the Yorkshire region, and consisted of a retrospective review of patients case notes and radiographs at five surgical units within the Yorkshire region. The subjects were 109 patients who had secondary alveolar bone grafting between 1.9.91. and 31.8.96. The quality of outcome was assessed using a four-point radiographic scale from occlusal radiographs taken at least 3 months post-operatively: Grade 1 = > 75 per cent bony in-fill, Grade 2 = 50-75 per cent bony in-fill, Grade 3 = < 50 per cent bony in-fill, and Grade 4 = no bony bridge. The radiographic assessment scale was assessed for reliability: inter-examiner weighted kappa = 0.622-0.715 and intra-examiner = 0.818-0.943. Grade 1 results were achieved in 63.2 per cent patients receiving orthodontic expansion and in 40 per cent without expansion before grafting. The four-point radiographic scale described is a useful tool in assessing alveolar bone grafting, Orthodontic expansion.