title: Investigation of caries prevalence in children with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries in children with orofacial clefts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 623 children aged 6-16 years with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate were included in the study. They were compared with 47,646 schoolchildren from Leipzig (Germany).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study used the standard dental indices dmf(t) and DMF(T) for clinical assessment. Children underwent a dental examination under standard conditions of seating and lighting in the out-patient department of paediatric dentistry as part of a regular checkup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of caries was significantly higher in children with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate in permanent and deciduous teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These assessments not only provide a baseline for oral health parameters in young patients with clefts, but also underline the need for a more aggressive approach to the prevention of oral disease to optimize clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Leipzig, Germany. kizhk@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirchberg
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treide
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemprich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous