Dental Status Of Children With Cleft Lip-Palate

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the oral health status of children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) who attended the Postgraduate Clinic of Pediatric Dentistry of the Dental School of University of Athens. Methods: 41 children (23 boys and 18 girls) 4-18 years of age participated in the study with CLP (mean age:10,5 SD:3,36).The control group consisted of 41 healthy children matched for sex, age and orthodontic condition (HLP).A questionnaire regarding oral hygiene and dietary habits of the children were taken. Clinical examination of the children was carried out by one examiner. The following parameters were recorded: dental plaque (Ramfjord teeth), caries (dmft/s, DMFT/S), white spots lesions and levels of MS and lactobacilli (CRT , Ivoclar -Vivadent). Informed consent was obtained from the parents. Results: There were no significant differences in the oral hygiene and dietary habits between the CLP and HLP group. The mean plaque index was significantly higher in the CLP group than in the HLP group (PI :1,03 vs 0,76 respectively) (p<0,01). However CLP children brushed their teeth more often under supervision (p<0,05). The prevalence of dental caries in children with oral cleft (DMFT=2,78) was similar with that of healthy children (DMFT: 3,05 vs 1,65 respectively) (p>0,05). White spot lesions was diagnosed in 58,5 % of the subjects with oral cleft compared with 14,6 % of the control subjects (p<0,01). 78,1% of the CLP group had MS >105 cfu while this was the case by 68,3% of the HLP group. Conclusions: Children with CLP need an individualized preventive program targeted to improvement of oral hygiene and prevention of progression of white spot lesions to carious lesions. On top of that parental education of effective toothbrushing should be emphasized.