The effect of infant orthopedics on the occlusion of the deciduous dentition in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (Dutchcleft).

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the effect of infant orthopedics (IO) on the occlusion of the deciduous dentition in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

DESIGN

Prospective, two-arm, randomized, controlled clinical trial with three participating cleft palate centers (Dutchcleft).

SETTING

Cleft Palate Centers of the University Medical Center Nijmegen, Academic Center of Dentistry Amsterdam, and Dijkzigt University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

PATIENTS: Children with complete UCLP (n = 54) were included.

INTERVENTIONS: In a concealed allocation procedure, half of the patients was randomized to wear a plate till surgical closure of the soft palate (IO+), and the other half (IO-) did not have a plate.

MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dental arch relationships were assessed at 4 and 6 years of age with the 5-year-old index; the Huddart-score; and measurements of overjet, overbite, and sagittal occlusion.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences found between the IO+ and IO- groups for the 5-year-old index; the Huddart-score; and overjet, overbite, and sagittal occlusion.

CONCLUSIONS

IO had no observable effect on the occlusion in the deciduous dentition at 4 and 6 years of age. Considering the occlusion only, there is no need to perform IO in children with UCLP.