Effects of cheiloplasty on maxillary dental arch development in infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and analyze quantitatively the development of the maxillary dental arch before and after cheiloplasty.


METHODS
Prospective, longitudinal study of maxillary dental arch development at age of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.


METHODS
All patients were treated at a university hospital craniofacial center.


METHODS
Twenty-seven infants with nonsyndromic, unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.


METHODS
Millard's rotation-advancement cheiloplasty was performed between the ages of 3 and 4 months.


RESULTS
The anterior portion of the nonclefted segment (I-G), anterior ridge length of the nonclefted segment (I-C), and anterior ridge length of the clefted segment (L-C') continuously increased from 1 to 12 months of age. The anterior cleft width (G-L), anterior arch depth (I perpendicular to CC'), anterior basal angle (angle GC-CC'), and anterior arch curature angle (angle GIC) continuously decreased after the cheiloplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
Cheiloplasty could mold the anterior portion of the maxillary dental arch palatally by exerting continuous pressure.
Faculty of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. sshuang@ms.hinet.net
Chiung-Shing
CS
Huang
Wein-I
WI
Wang
Eric Jein-Wein
EJ
Liou
Yu-Ray
YR
Chen
Philip Kao-Ting
PK
Chen
M Samuel
MS
Noordhoff
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008046:Lip / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000254:growth & development; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric