Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate cephalometrically the lower lip position and area of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) comparatively with Class I skeletodental normal subjects.
Patients
Lateral cephalometric and hand-wrist radiographs obtained from 24 patients with UCLP (mean age 12.86 years), along with 20 normal individuals (mean age 12.33 years) used as a control group, were examined.
Design
In addition to standard cephalometric dentofacial variables, lower lip area (superior, middle, inferior) was also measured using a digital planimeter on the lateral cephalograms.
Results
The superior and middle part of the lower lip areas were significantly smaller (p < .05) in the UCLP group, compared to the control group. The inferior and total lower lip areas of patients with UCLP were found to be significantly smaller than controls. The labiomental angle was also smaller (38.79 degrees).
Conclusions
The results suggest that the lower lip of patients with UCLP is smaller, retruded, and curved, with a deep labiomental sulcus, compared with normal individuals during puberty. Therefore, practitioners should focus not only on the upper lip of patients with UCLP but also should consider the lower lip as it was found distinct from normal individuals during puberty.
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