Influence of Different Palatoplasties on the Facial Morphology of Early Mixed Dentition Stage Children With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the maxillofacial morphology in the early mixed dentition phase between two patient groups with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate who underwent different types of palatoplasty.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

An institutional study.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Seventy-one patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated at Osaka University Dental Hospital, Japan, were divided into two groups: 33 patients were treated by early two-stage palatoplasty by the modified Furlow Technique (ETS), and 38 patients were treated by one-stage Wardill-Kilner push-back palatoplasty (PB). Intergroup comparisons were performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The dental, skeletal, and soft-tissue features were evaluated. For intergroup comparisons, Mann-Whitney U test was used for the statistical analyses.

RESULTS

No significant differences existed between the ETS and PB groups regarding the skeletal features except for the mandibular ridge height. Meanwhile, the upper central incisor and upper lip of the ETS group showed a more anterior position than those in the PB group.

CONCLUSIONS

Early two-stage Furlow palatoplasty leads to more protruded upper lip, providing more anteriorly positioned upper incisors compared with PB, at least at the early mixed dentition stage.