Dental and craniofacial differences between unilateral and bilateral nonsyndromic repaired cleft lip and palate in children and adolescents

a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: this study compared dental and craniofacial characteristics of children and adolescents with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UFLP) and bilateral cleft lip and palate (BFLP) non-syndromic repairs. Methods: secondary data were extracted from the medical records of 42 patients with UFLP (n = 31) and BFLP (n = 11), aged 6 to 17 years and both genders. Intercanine and intermolar distances, canine and molar relationships, overjet, overbite, and posterior crossbite were evaluated on plaster models; dental anomalies and other dental absences on digital panoramic radiographs; and cephalometric measurements on digital lateral cephalometric radiographs. Data were expressed as absolute frequency and percentage (chi-square or Fisher's exact test) and mean ± SD (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Student's t-test) (SPSS, p < 0.05). Results: agenesis was the most prevalent dental anomaly (n = 29; 69.0%) in the sample. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for overbite (UFLP 2.04 ± 2.82 mm and BFLP 4.26 ± 2.63 mm; p = 0.028) and cephalometric measurements (p < 0.05) 1/./1, 1/NS, 1/Orbita, 1/NB, 1-NB, 1/NPog, Pog-NB, 1-Line I, (Go-Me).(V-T), F.(V-T), A-(V-T), cephalometric discrepancy, Prn.(Sn-Ls), Sfl/-A perpendicular, and Iii-A(A-Pog). Conclusions: there are dental and craniofacial differences between UFLP and BFLP, and it should be considered in the orthodontic-surgical treatment plan of these patients to provide a more appropriate approach.