Prevalence, Location, Coexistence of Dental Anomalies Inside and Outside Cleft Region

Objectives: Prevalence of dental anomalies in cleft patients is higher than in general population. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of dental anomalies and their coexistence in French cleft children, then to investigate the relation between the dental anomalies and the cleft type.
Methods: 74 non-syndromic cleft patients (6-16 years old) from Lille Regional University and Mondor-Chenevier Hospitals (France) were included. Clefts were classified as right/left unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) and cleft palate (CP). Dental anomalies were investigated on panoramic radiographs and categorized as agenesis, supernumerary teeth, incisor rotations, impacted canines and shape anomalies. Prevalence and gender distribution of dental anomalies, mean number of affected teeth per patient, agenesis occurrence and location, and coexistence of dental anomalies were analyzed by cleft type.
Results: 96% of patients presented at least one dental anomaly (agenesis 83.8%, incisor rota-tions 25.7%, impacted canines 18.9%, shape anomalies, 17.6%, supernumerary teeth 8.1%). BCLP patients had a higher number of affected teeth (3.18 vs 2.21 for UCLP; 2.80 for CP) and left UCLP patients had a higher one compared to right UCLP patients. Distribution of inside (45.3%) and outside (54.7%) cleft region agenesis was similar. Adjacent (31.8%) and not adjacent (33.3%) combined dental anomalies were often encountered.
Conclusions: Dental anomalies were more prevalent in cleft patients than in general population. They were localized inside as well as outside cleft region and were often associated with each other. BCLP patients were more affected.