Dental abnormalities in permanent dentition in children with submucous cleft palate

Seventy-three children with submucous cleft palate (38 girls and 35 boys), mean age 8.2 years (range 7.7-9.5), were studied retrospectively from orthopantomograms. Dental abnormalities in permanent dentition were found in 26 patients (36%). Missing teeth, mainly lower 2nd premolars, upper lateral incisors, and upper 2nd premolars, were found in 12 patients (16%). Most of the patients had 1 or 2 missing teeth, 2 had 3 missing teeth. In 5 patients hypodontia was associated with another dental abnormality. Other dental abnormalities included peg-shaped lateral incisors in 7 patients (10%), ectopic eruption of upper 1st molars in 6 patients (8%), transposition of upper canines and 1st premolars in 3 patients (4%), supernumerary teeth in 2 patients (3%), and palatally displaced upper canines in 1 patient (1%). As children with submucous cleft palate have a tendency towards increased frequency of missing teeth and other dental abnormalities, the need for thorough clinical and radiological dental examination is emphasized.