Arch Symmetry in Patients Without and With Cleft Lip and Palate After Orthodontic/Rehabilitative Treatment—A Stereophotogrammetry Study

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate and compare the dental arch symmetry of individuals with and without cleft lip and palate after orthodontic/rehabilitation treatment.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Tertiary cleft center in Brazil.

Patients

Fifty-five participants aged between 18 and 30 years were divided into 3 groups according to treatment. Patients that received either a fixed partial denture (FPD) or implant-supported crown (ISC) in the cleft area or only orthodontic treatment, noncleft patients (NC).

Interventions

An analysis was performed using digitized dental casts scanned by laser and software. The following linear measurements were evaluated: incisor-canine; canine-molar; incisor-molar; surface and volume of the palatal region.

Main Outcome Measure

Three-way ANOVA was used to compare the study factors: group (FPD/ISC/NC) and side (right/left) followed by the Tukey test to verify their interaction (α = .05).

Results

The results showed statistically significant differences among groups for the maxillary linear measurements canine-molar and incisor-molar, but not for incisor-canine. No statistically significant differences were found regarding the side for the maxillary measurements, while the factor interaction showed similarity only for incisor-canine. The mandibular measurements showed no statistical differences among groups, sides, or factor interactions. In surface and volume, all values in patients with cleft presented lesser than in without cleft patients.

Conclusion

Regardless of the rehabilitation, arch symmetry can be achieved in the incisor-canine dimension in the cleft area.