Alveolar reconstruction in adolescent patients with cleft palates.

Treatment of patients with cleft palates requires optimal interdisciplinary care. The efforts of the entire team treating the patient with cleft palate must be closely coordinated, even when the deformity is confined to the alveolus. In a significant number of patients with cleft palate, surgical reconstruction of the alveolus and adjacent soft tissue is a necessary adjunct to orthodontic, prosthetic, and facial soft tissue management. Surgical treatment and its complications are discussed, with specific case examples.