Maxillary dental development in complete unilateral alveolar clefts.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine whether development of individual maxillary teeth in subjects with complete unilateral alveolar clefts was significantly different from that found in unaffected children.

DESIGN

Retrospective, mixed longitudinal.

SETTING

Craniofacial Center, university based.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 179 panoramic radiographs obtained during the mixed dentition from 79 subjects (47 males, 32 females) with complete alveolar clefts was analyzed. After visual evaluation of root development of the permanent maxillary teeth from radiographs, a score from 0 to 5 was assigned utilizing a predefined scoring system. Statistical analyses were performed between the cleft and unaffected reference groups available in the literature.

RESULTS

The cleft side dentition was found to be significantly delayed in development relative to the noncleft side (p < .05). Compared to the reference group, the cleft side lateral incisor demonstrated a mean difference in development of 1.59 years followed by the canine (1.39 years), the central incisor (0.96 years), the first premolar (0.94), and the second premolar (0.78).

CONCLUSION

Teeth directly adjacent to the cleft site were shown to be the most delayed. The lateral incisors and canines were observed to be the most variable when compared to their corresponding antimeres. The information obtained from this study may assist the orthodontist in selecting the appropriate time to initiate orthodontic treatment in order to prepare the permanent dentition prior to alveolar bone grafting.