title: Multidimensional esthetic evaluation of patients with a cleft lip and palate wearing a maxillary partial removable dental prosthesis: A 5-year retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No published quantitative or qualitative studies are available of the 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D esthetic evaluation of patients with a cleft lip and palate (CLP) wearing a maxillary partial removable dental prosthesis (MPRDP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the facial esthetic improvements of patients with CLP wearing an MPRDP for 5 years by using 2D cephalometric and 3D photogrammetry methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients, 2 men and 4 women, with CLP deformity were recruited and treated with an MPRDP by the same dentist over 5 years. Results of the clinical examination were recorded before and after wearing the MPRDP. Sella-nasion-A (SNA) point, the U1-SN, 0-meridian to SN, nasolabial angle, and maxillary incisor exposure were measured by 2D cephalometric analysis before and after wearing the MPRDP. 3D photographs were captured by 3dMD software. Geomagic Spark Studio software was also used to measure the patients' improved upper lip projection after the MPRDP was worn. The paired sample t test was used to compare the participants (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  U1-SN (P<.05) and 0-meridian to SN (P<.01) had significant deviation statistically. After patients underwent clinical examination, SNA and nasiolabial angles were found to have improved, although no statistical significance was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A maxillary partial removable dental prosthesis (MPRDP) can advance the upper lip forward, restoring the subnasal and upper lip projection. Patients' nasiolabial angles with MPRDPs were decreased, which led to a more harmonious facial contour.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Science, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Dedong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician, Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Guofang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Associate Chief Physician, Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Science, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Chief Physician. Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiuyin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Chief Physician, Department of Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Science, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, PR China. Electronic address: maxillofacsurg@163.com.
authors.forename: Guofang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steve Shen
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000628:therapy*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000628:therapy*; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D012189:Retrospective Studies