Scandcleft randomized trials of primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip and palate: dental anomalies in 8-year olds
Abstract
Background: Children born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) are reported to display several
dental anomalies including agenesis, supernumeraries, as well as variations in dental size, shape,
and path of eruption. The extensive sample of individuals with UCLP included in the Scandcleft
randomized control trials offers the opportunity to study more rare conditions, which is seldom
possible with limited samples.
Objectives: The aim was to study dental anomalies at 8 years of age in children born with UCLP
included in the Scandcleft randomized control trials.
Methods: Panoramic and intraoral radiographs from 425 individuals (279 males and 146 females)
with a mean age of 8.1 years were assessed by four orthodontists regarding dental anomalies.
Results: Agenesis was found in 52.5 per cent and supernumerary teeth in 16.9 per cent of the
participants. The cleft lateral was missing in 43.8 per cent and was found peg shaped in 44.7 per
cent. The distribution of ectopic eruption was 14.6 per cent, mainly affecting maxillary first molars,
while transposition was found in 3.4 per cent of the individuals. In addition, infraocclusion of one
or several primary molars was registered in 7.2 per cent of the participants.
Conclusion: We conclude that 8-year-old children born with UCLP display multiple dental
anomalies. The Scandcleft sample allowed rarely studied conditions such as infraocclusion of
primary molars and transposition to be studied in children born with UCLP