Surgery
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Alveolar Bone Graft for Kids
When?
Typically between 8 and 10 years old.
Why?
Not all children need this operation. Having a cleft lip can leave a gap in your gum. This gap needs some bone in it so your adult teeth can grow through properly.
How?
You will be asleep for the operation. We will take a small piece of spare bone from your hip and use it to fill the gap in your gums.
What Will Happen?
- Braces: You might need braces before your operation to get your teeth ready. You may need to wear these for 6 to 12 months, and you will visit a special dentist called an orthodontist (a tooth-straightening expert).
- Toothbrushing: It is very important to brush your teeth twice a day before your operation. We will give you some special tablets that show you which parts of your teeth still need more brushing.
- You will come to hospital without eating breakfast. Early in the morning you can only drink water.
- Some doctors will see you before the operation. They can answer any questions you or your parents have.
Some children stay one night in hospital after their operation. Others go home the same day. Your team will tell you the plan for you.
Aftercare
It is really important to eat soft foods for 4 weeks after the operation. Try not to bite into food with your front teeth. You can find more advice on what you can and cannot eat here.
You can go back to sport and swimming after 4 weeks, but not before then.
We will give your parents painkillers (medicine that helps with pain) to give to you, so it is not too sore. It might feel sore for the first few days, but this will not last long.
You can brush your teeth with a soft brush twice a day from the day after your operation. This will not undo your stitches.
We will ask you to use the same special tablets you used before the operation. Start this 1 week after the operation, and keep using them until your stitches dissolve.
Your parents can take the dressing (plaster) off 5 days after your operation.