A comparative study on mandibular morphological structures in cleft lip and palate and non-cleft lip and palate patients

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the features of the mandibular morphological structures of cleft lip and palate patients by comparing with non-cleft lip and palate patients. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 60 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in Çukurova University Faculty of Dentistry. 30 unilateral cleft lip and palate patients were included as study group and 30 non-cleft lip and palate patients as control group CBCT data were measured using Planmeca Romexis 3.8.1.R (Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland) and Dolphin Imaging Version 11.95 (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, CA, USA) programs. These measurements were evaluated in 2 groups as mandibular and condylar morphology outcomes. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 25.0 package program was used in the statistical analysis of the data. Results: The cleft side had lower eminence height, anterior-superior-posterior joint space, condylar width, ramus length, body length and condylar length measurements in study group than in the control group (p<0.05); however, the gonial angle measurements were higher (p=0.040). The cleft deformity side had lower medial joint space, eminence height, posterior joint space and condylar width measurements in study group compared to control group (p=0.001; p=0.004; p=0.001; p=0.024; p<0.001, respectively), while the mandibular body length, ramus length, condylar length and gonial angle measurements were higher on the non-cleft side compared to the cleft side (p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; p=0.008). In study group, the measurements of eminence height, anterior joint space, upper joint space and ramus length on the non-cleft side were found to be lower compared to the control group (respectively,p=0.011; p=0.021; p=0.002; p=0.041); and the gonial angle measurements were found to be higher on the non-cleft side compared to the control group (p=0.002). In study group a moderate inverse relationship was found between the chin tip deviation and the cleft side gonial angle measurement averages. Conclusion: Cleft lip and palate affects the mandibular morphological structures and also causes chin tip deviation. Key Words: Cleft lip and palate, Cone beam computed tomography, Mandibular morphology