The influence of unilateral cleft lip and palate on maxillary dental arch morphology.

A sample of 97 untreated cleft lip and palate adult patients, with and without Simonart's band, was analyzed. The dimensions and form of the maxillary dental arches were analyzed. Comparison of this sample with a "normal" group indicated maxillary dental arch size and shape are distorted by the presence of a cleft which is characterized by a constriction that becomes more severe in the medial and anterior regions. The presence of Simonart's band affects the cleft arch form, redirecting the anterior extremity of the major segment towards the minor segment.