Examination of oral and dental health findings of children and adolescents with cleft lip and palate.

Objective: The purpose of this study evaluates of dental caries, oral hygiene, salivary buffering capacity, salivary flow rate, pH, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and lactobacillus levels of children and adolescents with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and compare results with healthy patients. Another aim of our study is to contribute to the development of new and comprehensive treatment and follow-up strategies for patients with CLP Method: This study involved 50 patients with CLP between 5-14 years old (mean: 8,94±2,44) and 50 healthy children aged 6-15 (mean: 9,98±2,32). In patients with CLP and healthy control group, initial oral hygiene index (OHI), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), calculus index, DMFT, dft, salivary flow rate, salivary buffering capacity, pH, S. mutans and lactobacillus values were examined. After the initial evaluation oral hygiene motivations were given to the CLP patients and directed for the necessary dental treatments. At sixth month control appointments the same parameters were reevaluated. The obtained data were compared. Results: The initial OHI, GI value, S. Mutans and lactobacilli level of the study group were statistically significantly higher than the control group (p<0,05). A significant improvement was observed in the GI, S. Mutans and lactobacilli levels of the study group after 6 months, and the statistical difference between them and the control group disappeared. Although the DMFT and dft values of the study group were higher than the healthy group, there was no statistically significant difference. It was observed that the pH study group increased in the sixth month. Conclusion: It has been seen that it is important to give oral hygiene education, to meet their dental treatment needs, and to have regular follow-ups to the children with CLP, and observed that their oral and dental health conditions can reach the same level as healthy individuals in a short period of 6 months. It is very important to include pedodontics in the treatment team of these patients who require a multidisciplinary approach. Key words: Cleft lip and palate, Gingival index, OHI, DMFT, S. mutans, Lactobacillus