[The study of occlusal contact areas of upper premolars and molars in the unilateral cleft lip and palate].
OBJECTIVE
Occlusal contact plays an important roll in masticatory procedure. It infers to biting force and masticatory performance. In order to analysis the oral function in UCLP, the author tested the occlusal contact areas of upper premolars and molars in UCLP.


METHODS
22 UCLP patients (male 13, female 9, permanent teeth) were selected, which had no temporomandibular joint dysfunction. All of them had received plastic surgery treatment and never received orthodontic therapy. Their occlusal contact areas of upper premolars and molars in intercaspid position were recorded by performed soft wax, and the results were managed by computer with the software of micro image analysis system. All the data were input to computer and be analyzed by statistics.


RESULTS
1. In normal people, the occlusal contact areas of upper premolars and molars had no differences in bilateral and in sexual. 2. there was no sexual difference in UCLP as that in normal group, and the occlusal contact areas in cleft side or non-cleft side had no difference yet. 3. The occlusal contact areas in UCLP were lower than that in normal people. 4. The decrease of occlusal contact areas was the most important factor to low masticatory performance in UCLP patients.


CONCLUSIONS
After plastic surgery in UCLP, orthodontic therapy will improve masticatory contact and contribute to craniofacial esthetic and masticatory function.
Zhou
J
J
College of Stomatology, West China University of Medical Sciences.
Duan
Y
Y
Yu
X
X
Huang
L
L
Li
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D009811:Odontometry