Congenital Missing of the Maxillary Lateral Incisor in UCLP Patients

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of cleft sidedness, congenital missing and malformation of the permanent maxillary lateral incisor (MLI) and presence of supernumerary teeth between unilateral cleft lip and alveolus (UCLA) and unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) Korean patients. Methods:75 patients with UCLA and 129 patients with UCLP (age: 6.0 to 13.0 years) were investigated using patients' charts, models, radiographs, and intraoral photographs. Chi-square test, binomial test, and relative risk assessment were performed. There was a male dominant tendency in UCLP (p<0.001) and in UCLA (p<0.05) patients. Results:UCLP patients were 1.3 times more involved with the left side and had 2.2 times more congenital missing of MLI than UCLA patient. When MLI was present, malformation occurred more frequently than normal shape in UCLA (p<0.001) and UCLP (p<0.01) patients. Incidence of supernumerary teeth was 4.6 times higher in UCLA than in UCLP patients. When cleft extended to the secondary palate, the left sided involvement was more predominant than in UCLA patients. Conclusion:When cleft involvement was confined to the primary palate, presence of MLI was more common than congenital missing, and incidence of supernumerary teeth was more prevalent than in UCLP patients.