Evaluation of cephalometric and occlusal characteristics of dentofacial structures in individuals with cleft lip palate

Purpose: Evaluation of the dentofacial characteristics of patients with cleft lip-palate (CLP), determining the differences to normal individuals and assessment of the relationship of lateral cephalometric measurements with occlusal characteristics were aimed. Method: In our retrospective, cross-sectional study, 38 patients with bilateral complete cleft lip palate (BCLP), 72 patients with unilateral complete cleft lip palate (UCLP), 124 cases with skeletal Class I and 124 cases with skeletal Class III anomalies were evaluated in their prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal periods with initial lateral cephalometric films. For CLP groups, the relationship GOLSON Yardstick and Bauru BCLP Yardstick indices with lateral cephalometric measurements were assessed. Findings: In prepubertal UCLP ANS-PNS (mm) was significantly lower than Class I and Class III groups (p<0,001, p=0.025). In postpubertal UCLP, SNA°, (FH⊥N)-A (mm), ANS-PNS (mm), FH-NA° were significantly lower compared to Class I and Class III groups. In prepubertal BCLP, ANB° (p=0.016), Wits (mm) (p=0.005) were significantly higher compared to the Class I group. In pubertal UCLP, ANB°, NAPg°, Wits (mm) were significantly higher compared to Class III group (p<0.001). In patients with UCLP, ANB°, NAPg°, Wits (mm) were significantly less than in the postpubertal period compared to prepubertal. In prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal UCLP and BCLP, 1U-SN° and 1U-PP° values were significantly decreased compared to Class I and Class III groups. The Upper lip length was significantly less than the control group in patients with CLP in all periods. There was strong and statistically significant negative correlation between Overjet (r= -0.861 p<0.001) and values and Bauru BCLP Yardstick scores in cases with BCLP, and between ANB°, NAPg°, and Overjet (r= -0.747 p<0.001) values and GOSLON Yardstick scores in cases with UCLP. Conclusion: In cases with UCLP, ANB and NAPg angles were found to be similar to the Class I group in the prepubertal period, and similar to the Class III group in the postpubertal period. In BCLP, ANB angle and Wits length were found to be greater than the Class I group in the prepubertal period, but similar to the Class I group in the postpubertal period. In individuals with CLP, the upper incisors were seen to be retrusive with respect to Class I and Class III groups in all periods.