title: A cephalometric evaluation of lower lip in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Ankara University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics, Ortodonti Anabilim Dal1 06500 Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey. toygar@dentistry.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: T Ufuk
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Toygar
authors.forename: M Okan
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Akçam
authors.forename: Ayça
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arman
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000473:pathology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development