Methods: A sample of 120 2-5 years-old children previously submitted to reparative surgery was formed between August 2010 and January 2011. Data were collected through interviews with guardians and clinical examination. The exams were performed by a single calibrated examiner. The following variables were assessed: dental caries, treatment needs, malocclusions (anterior crossbite, posterior crossbite, anterior open bite) and non-nutritive sucking habits. The statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistic and Pearson’s chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, T-Studant and F (ANOVA).
Results: Most of the children showed cleft lip and palate (50,5%). The prevalence of dental caries was 40,5% and the average of dmf-t index was 2,45. Fifty eight percent of the children showed need of prevent treatment. The dental caries experience was associated to the child’s age, school level of the family chief and economic level, and was not associated to the type of the cleft. The prevalence of the sucking habits was 30,5%, this variable not was associated to the cleft type. The malocclusion most prevalent was anterior crossbite (45,5%), following the posterior crossbite (25,5%) and the anterior open bite (11,5%). Anterior crossbite and posterior crossbite were associated to gender (female) and the type of cleft (lip and palate).
Conclusions: Despite of the prevalence of dental caries was lower than the found in other studies; the target population still showed high level of dental caries and treatment needs for the age group. This study showed that, in patient with cleft lip/palate, the occurrence of malocclusions are related to severity of the anatomic-functional deformities than the presence of behavioral factors such as sucking habits.