Are teeth close to the cleft more susceptible to periodontal disease?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether teeth close to the cleft area present higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease than teeth in other regions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo.


METHODS
There were 400 individuals with complete unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate, aged 15 to 49 years, without any previous periodontal treatment.


METHODS
All clinical parameters were evaluated in six sites for each tooth. The arithmetic means were calculated for each sextant.


RESULTS
Of the sextants, 86.75% presented means of probing depth smaller than or equal to 3 mm. No sextant exhibited means of probing depth greater than or equal to 6 mm. There was a statistically significant difference (p < .001) in probing depth according to age, types of cleft, and sextant; 95.87% of sextants presented mean attachment levels smaller than or equal to 3 mm. The sextant with cleft did not present higher means of probing depth, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and gingival index. There was gingival bleeding in 99.08% of the sample and plaque in 97.40%. The type of cleft was not an important factor influencing the prevalence of periodontal disease. Age seems to be an important factor influencing the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease for all aspects investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
Periodontal disease in individuals with clefts occurred in a similar manner as observed in other populations. The presence of the cleft does not seem to increase the prevalence of the disease.
de Almeida
Ana Lúcia Pompéia Fraga
AL
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. al_fraga@terra.com.br
Gonzalez
Marly Kimie Sonohara
MK
Greghi
Sebastião Luiz Aguiar
SL
Conti
Paulo César Rodrigues
PC
Pegoraro
Luiz Fernando
LF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult