A Comparison of Occlusions in Two Groups of Children Whose Clefts Were Repaired by Three Different Surgical Procedures

Abstract

An inter—center comparison of the types and degrees of malocclusion found in children with complete unilateral cleft lips and palates is reported. The children were operated upon at two Scandinavian cleft palate centers, where three different surgical procedures were used. The sample was comprised of 47 Danish and 55 Norwegian children in either the primary or early mixed dentition stage. Malocclusions were documented by the method of Bjork et al. (1964) prior to any orthodontic treatment. Deviations in transverse and incisor occlusion were tabulated and compared. Differences were found in the frequency of crossbite of the buccal teeth on the cleft side and in the distribution and frequency of anterior crossbite. The differences are discussed in relationship to the different methods of surgical management. KEY WORDS: Cleft lip, cleft palate, occlusion, surgery Immediate and long-term effects of the surgical closure of clefts are important factors in the development of specific malocclusions in patients with combined cleft lip and palate. Different surgical techniques may well influence the dentition in different ways and studies of this factor might contribute to improved understanding of the effects ofvarious surgical procedures and to a reduction of the extent of malocclusion in the cleft population. The purpose of the present study was to compare the type and degree of malocclusion in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate operated upon at two Scandina-vian cleft palate centers by three different surgical procedures. Subjects Subjects for investigation were 47 Danish children four to seven years of age with com— plete unilateral cleft lips and palates and in Dr. Dahl and Dr. Hanusardottir are affiliated with