3D Analysis of Dental Arch of Children With Cleft Lip/Palate

Objectives: The purpose of this study was a longitudinal evaluation of dental arch dimensions in children with cleft lip and palate after primary surgeries.
Methods: The sample consisted of three-dimensional digital models obtained from plaster casts of 25 subjects with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP group) and 29 patients with cleft palate (CP group). Maxillary arch dimensions were measured at 3 months (before lip repair), at 1 year (before palate repair) and at 2 years of age. The following dimensions were obtained: anterior maxillary length, total maxillary length, intercanine and intertuberosity distance. Student’s t test was used for comparison between groups. Repeated measures ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used to compare different treatment phases in UCLP group. Paired t test was used to compare different treatment phases in CP group. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Decreased intercanine distance and anterior arch length were observed after lip repair in UCLP group. Before palatoplasty, maxillary dimensions significantly increased, and the intercanine (UCLP group) and intertuberosity distances (UCLP and CP groups) decreased. At the time of palatoplasty and at two years of age, maxillary dimensions were very similar in both groups. In UCLP group, lip repair had a higher influence on the anterior portion of the arch. Palatoplasty inhibited growth in transverse direction in both groups. However, this inhibition appeared to be higher in UCLP group, with restricted growth in anterior and posterior regions. In CP group inhibition of growth was more pronounced in the posterior region of the maxillary arch.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that maxillary arches of children with cleft lip and palate were changed as a result of primary surgeries.