Predisposing factors to dental caries in children with cleft lip and palate: a review and strategies for early prevention.
OBJECTIVE
To review predisposing factors contributing to dental caries in patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both (CL/P).


METHODS
Patients with CL/P have a higher susceptibility to caries compared with the population group without clefts. A review of the literature was undertaken to determine factors that could account for the compromised oral hygiene and the high caries prevalence in patients with CL/P.


RESULTS
After a literature review, modern strategies for the prevention of early childhood caries were developed and should be considered for integration into the overall management protocol of patients with CL/P.


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive dental care is ever more so important in patients with CL/P compared with patients without clefts.
Cheng
Lam L
LL
University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Moor
Stephen L
SL
Ho
Christopher T C
CT
D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012307:Risk Factors