138 - Cleft Severity And Dental Anomalies

Purpose: To conduct a retrospective chart review to determine if a correlation between initial cleft severity and dental anomalies exists in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on unilateral cleft lip and palate patients seen at Children’s Health between 2011 and 2025. Initial cleft severity was measured using the cleft severity index tool. Dental crowding in the mixed dentition was measured using the tooth size length arch discrepancy method with digital models. Dental anomalies were identified using radiographic records for each patient.

Results: A retrospective chart review was performed on 76 (N=76) charts. A positive correlation with statistical significance exists between initial cleft severity, maxillary dental crowding, central incisor rotation, and lateral incisor inclination, p=0.000 where p<0.01 (2-tailed). A correlation with statistical significance exists between canine inclination and initial cleft severity, p=0.014 where p< 0.05 (2-tailed). There was no statistical significant relationship between initial cleft severity, central incisor malformation, ectopic 2nd premolar and missing 2nd premolar on the cleft side.

Conclusion: In patients with non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate, there is a significant relationship between initial cleft severity, dental crowding and dental anomalies. The cleft severity index tool has a potential expanded use in a dental clinical setting to predict the severity of dental crowding and dental anomalies before patients undergo alveolar bone graft surgery.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: Research supported by Children's Health SM.