Dental development of the permanent lateral incisor in patients with incomplete and complete unilateral cleft lip.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate a possible delay in root development of the permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side compared with its contralateral tooth in patients with incomplete and complete unilateral cleft lip.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

SETTING

Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP), Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.

PATIENTS: A sample of 95 panoramic radiographs of patients with incomplete and complete unilateral cleft was obtained from the files of HRAC/USP. The patients were both boys and girls of various races, aged 5 to 11 years, and did not have any syndrome or associated congenital malformation. The sample was divided into three groups according to the severity of the cleft lip.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Radiographs were analyzed to compare root development stage of the lateral incisor on the cleft side with the noncleft side according to the classification of Nolla.

RESULTS

The mean delay in root development of the permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side ranged from 0.5 to 1.6 scores for all three groups investigated.

CONCLUSIONS

Root development of the permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side was delayed compared with the noncleft side.