Dental development in children with cleft lip and palate: a comparison between unilateral and bilateral clefts

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ABSTRACT

Aim

The aims of this study were to assess and compare the dental development in patients with unilateral (UCLP)
and bilateral (BCLP) cleft lip and palate. Study design: Dental developmental delay was compared between 40 UCLP patients
(20 boys and 20 girls, average age 9.6 2.7 years) and 40 BCLP patients matched by sex and age (to the nearest 6
months). For the purpose of comparison, a total of 80 panoramic radiographs of unaffected group matching in age and sex
were selected randomly.

Methods

Using panoramic radiographs, the seven left mandibular permanent teeth, second
molar to central incisor, were rated on eight stage scales using the methods described by Demirjian et al. [1973]. The stage of
each tooth was converted to the corresponding numeric value, and then all values were added to obtain a dental maturity
score, which corresponded to a dental age. Statistics: The differences in developmental delay between the two cleft groups
were determined using independent t-test.

Results

There was statistically significant difference (P<0.0001) between chronologic and dental age in cleft patients. The mean dental development delay in UCLP was 0.34 years and for BCLP was 0.61 years. BCLP patients were found to have a greater delay than UCLP patients (P<0.05). Girls showed an advanced dental development in both types of clefts. Comparison between the two cleft groups showed only significant difference in the amount of delay in female subjects.

Conclusion

Dental development in UCLP and BCLP patients was significantly
delayed compared to non cleft reference. Dental development in boys was significantly behind that of girls. A significant
difference in the amount of delay between both cleft types was found only in female subjects.

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