Authors: Baraka M, Hanno A, Bakry NS, Medra A, Moussa H.
Objective: To assess and compare the transverse dental arch relationship and occlusion in surgically repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate Egyptian children with those of healthy comparable non-cleft children.
Study design: Comparative cross-sectional. Thirty-one non-syndromic children with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and mean age 7.35 ± 1.52 years together with thirty-one healthy, comparable, non-cleft children were recruited from Faculty of dentistry, Alexandria University. For each subject, sagittal molar and cuspid occlusion were measured using dental study casts. The buccolingual dental arch relationships were determined using modified Huddart/ Bodenham scoring system.
Results: Mesial step terminal plane and class III cuspid relation were significantly higher in UCLP children in the age group 4-5 years. Class III permanent molar and cuspid relations were significantly higher in UCLP children in both age groups 6-7 and 8-9 years. Modified Huddart/Bodenham showed a significantly more negative total arch constriction score in 6-9 year old UCLP children.
Conclusions: There was a predilection for most of UCLP children to have mesial step terminal plane in primary dentition, class III permanent molar relation in mixed dentition and Class III cuspid relations. Modified Huddart/ Bodenham scores revealed that UCLP children suffered from constricted maxillary arch especially in the canine region.
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