The Characteristics and Distribution of Dental Anomalies in Patients with Cleft

Background: Dental anomalies associated with different severities of cleft lip and palatehave been rarely reported. This retrospective study investigates the characteristics of dental anomalies associated with different types of cleft, and compares the dental anomaly traits based on sex and severity of cleft.Methods: Cleft patients born in 1995 with qualified diagnostic records from 7 to 11years were included for evaluation. Records were retrieved from database ofChang Gung Craniofacial Center, including panoramic radiographs and intraoral photographs. In total, 196 patients with complete records were includedin the evaluation. This study compares the dental anomalies associated witheach type of cleft.Results: The frequency of dental anomalies in the maxillary incisor area in the cleftpalate (CP) group (20%) was significantly lower than that in other groups.The frequency of missing maxillary lateral incisors (MLIs) increased as thecleft severity increased. Supernumerary teeth and missing lower incisorsexhibited the opposite trend. No sexual dimorphism appeared in terms of thefrequencies of peg laterals and missing MLIs. The distribution patterns ofmissing MLIs and peg laterals in males, but not in females, were consistentfor the three types of unilateral clefts.Conclusion: Regarding the characteristics of dental anomalies among the three unilateralclefts, missing MLIs, supernumerary teeth, and missing lower incisors werefound to be related to cleft severity. The maxillary lateral incisor was themost affected tooth in the cleft area. The frequency of missing MLIs and peglaterals was not sexual dimorphic, but the distribution pattern was differentbetween the sexes