Surgery
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Alveolar Bone Graft for Kids
- When? Between 8 and 10 years
- Why? Having a cleft lip can leave a gap in your gum. This area needs some bone for your adult teeth to grow into.
- How? You will be asleep for the operation. You will go home on the same day as your operation. We will take some spare bone from your hip and use it to fill a gap in your gums.
- What will happen?
- Before the operation:
- Braces: You might need braces before your operation to get your teeth ready. This can be for 6-12 months before your operation and requires visits to a special dentist called an orthodontist.
- Toothbrushing: It is very important you brush your teeth twice a day before your operation. We will give you some special tablets to help show you where you need to focus your brushing.
- On the day of surgery:
- You will come to hospital without eating anything for breakfast and will only be able to drink water early in the morning.
- You will be seen by some doctors before the operation who can answer your questions if you have any or your parents can ask questions for you.
- Going home:
- Some children stay one night in hospital after their operation. Others go home on the same day as surgery. Your team will tell you what the plan is for you.
- Aftercare:
- What can I eat? It is really important that you eat soft foods for 4 weeks after the operation. You should also avoid biting into foods with your front teeth. You can find more advice on what you can and can’t eat here (link to nursing section)
- Can I play sport? You will be able to return to sport and swimming after 4 weeks but not before this.
- Will it be sore? We will give your parents painkillers to give to you so that it is not too sore. It might feel sore for the first few days after the operation but this will not last.
- Toothbrushing: You can brush your teeth with a soft brush twice a day from the day after your operation. This will not dissolve your stitches.
- Keeping your mouth clean: We will ask you to use the special tablets you used before surgery. This will start 1 week after surgery and continue until the stitches are dissolved.
- Dressings: Your parents can take your dressing off 5 days after your operation.
- Before the operation:
Some Questions You Might Have
Here are some frequently asked questions that provide straightforward answers about cleft lip and palate surgery, helping families understand the condition, what it means, and how it is treated. These questions cover the topics parents and carers often want to know first, offering clear information to support you from the beginning of your journey.