title: The Nasolabial Angle Among Patients with Total Cleft Lip and Palate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nasolabial angle is the angle that is measured between points columella, subnasale and labiale superius. The reference values vary from 90 to 120 degrees (the mean value is 109.8 degrees). In some disorders, nasolabial angle might change. This influences the facial profile. One of such deformities are clefts. The nasolabial angle might be decreased in cleft patients due to deformation of the nose and upper lip that might be caused by the reconstructive surgical procedures performed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the nasolabial angle between the groups of patients with total clefts of the lip, alveolar bone and palate and healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cephalometric X-rays of 118 patients with clefts (73 boys and 45 girls) and 101 healthy individuals (32 boys and 69 girls) were taken into account to measure nasolabial angle and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with cleft deformities, the nasolabial angle values were smaller than in healthy individuals. Among the patients with clefts, the ones with a bilateral type of deformity are characterized by the highest mean values of nasolabial angle. The angle is smaller in groups of girls when compared to boys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasolabial angle in patients with total clefts of lip, alveolar bone and palate is statistically smaller than in healthy individuals. This might be a result of either the deformation of the upper lip or (more probably) the nose. The orthodontic treatment should be individualized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentofacial Anomalies, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paradowska-Stolarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kawala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography