title: Caries experience in individuals with cleft lip and palate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess if children with clefts have an increased caries experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caries data was collected via clinical examination of 115 4- to 21-year-olds with clefts and 230 controls. Cleft type was confirmed through their medical  records and fluoride exposure history; oral hygiene habits and dietary history were obtained though a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adherence to the preventive oral health habits (tooth-brushing, use of fluoride, and dietary factors) were not different among groups excluding the use of  dental floss. The mean DMFT was 1.20 (±1.8 SD) for the cleft group and 0.90 (±1.8) for the control group. There was no significant difference in the DMFT scores between children with clefts and the control group (P=.16). The mean dmft was 1.68 (±2.1) for the cleft group  and 2.61 (±2.9) for the control group. The prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth was significantly lower in the cleft-affected children vs the control group (P=.02). The percentage of caries-free individuals was similar in cleft and control groups (P=.90), and was also similar  in different cleft types (P=.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caries experience in children born with clefts is not higher in comparison to control children.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Veiga de Almeida University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Nivoloni
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tannure
authors.forename: Marcelo De Castro
authors.initials: Mde C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Erika Calvano
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Küchler
authors.forename: Helena Freire
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Romanos
authors.forename: Jose Mauro
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Granjeiro
authors.forename: Alexandre R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vieira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male