Long-Term Osteogenic Outcomes of Deproteinized Bovine Bone in Alveolar Cleft Reconstruction: A 7-Year Histopathological and Radiographic Comparative Analysis

Various bone substitutes have been used in alveolar cleft repair, with the advantages of reduced donor-site morbidity and reported desirable bone formation. In the majority of these studies, radiographs were considered to be an effective means of assessing the bone repair rate. However, in the present case report of a 27-year-old man who underwent alveolar cleft repair with deproteinized bovine bone particles (Bio-Oss®) for 7 years, inconsistencies in osteogenic findings were observed between histopathology and radiography. This case suggests that radiographic assessment may overestimate the efficacy of bone substitutes and that the comprehensive assessment incorporating histopathologic examination is necessary.