Correlation between cleft width and dental arch symmetry in cleft lip and palate: a longitudinal study

Author(s)

Eloá Cristina Passucci AMBROSIO ^[1] ; Maria Giulia Rezende PUCCIARELLI ^[2] ; Chiarella SFORZA ^[3] ; Simone SOARES ^[4] ; Márcio de MENEZES ^[5] ; Cleide Felício Carvalho CARRARA ^[6] ; Maria Aparecida Andrade Moreira MACHADO ^[7] ; Thais Marchini OLIVEIRA ^[8]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Bauru School of Dentistry. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and Public Health - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Bauru School of Dentistry. Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology - Brasil

^[3] University of Milan. Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health - Itália

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Bauru School of Dentistry. Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Estadual do Amazonas. School of Health Science, Restorative Dentistry - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies - Brasil

^[7] Universidade de São Paulo. Bauru School of Dentistry. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and Public Health - Brasil

^[8] Universidade de São Paulo. Bauru School of Dentistry. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, and Public Health - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Oral Research; v. 37, 2023-03-31.

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the influence of cleft width on dental arch symmetry of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Forty-one children were subjected to impression preoperatively (T1; mean age = 0.31 ± 0.07 years) and postoperatively (T2; mean age = 6 .73 ± 1.02 years). Eighty-two digitized dental casts were analyzed by stereophotogrammetry software. The cleft palate width was measured in the anterior (P-P’), middle (M-M’), and posterior (U-U’) regions. Also, the following measurements were obtained: anterior intersegment (I-C’) and intrasegment (I-C); total intersegment (I-T’) and intrasegment (I-T); cleft-side (C’-T’) and non-cleft-side (C-T) canine tuberosity. Paired t test and Pearson correlation coefficient were applied (α = 5%). Cleft width had the following means: 10.16 (± 3.46) mm for P-P’, 12.45 (± 3.00) mm for M-M’, and 12.57 (± 2.71) mm for U-U’. In the longitudinal analysis, I-C’ had a significant reduction, while the other measurements significantly increased (p < 0.001). Asymmetry was verified in the following analyses at T1: I-C’ vs. I-C and I-T’ vs. I-T (p < 0.001); at T2, only in I-C’ vs. I-C (p < 0.001). At T1, P-P’ vs. I-C’ (r = 0.722 and p < 0.001), P-P’ vs. I-T’ (r = 0.593 and p < 0.001), M-M’ vs. I-C’ (r = 0.620 and p < 0.001), and M-M’ vs. I-T’ (r = 0.327 and p < 0.05) showed a positive and significant correlation. At T2, there was a correlation between M-M’ and I-C’ (r = 0.377 and p < 0.05). In conclusion, the anterior and middle cleft widths influenced palatal asymmetry in the first months of life, while middle width influenced residual asymmetry. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/02706-9 - Use of 3D stereophotogrammetry for volumetric analyses and image superposition of dental arches before and after surgery of individuals with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate
• Grantee: Eloá Cristina Passucci Ambrosio
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate