Gingival recession in individuals with cleft lip and palate: prevalence and severity

To analyze the prevalence and severity of gingival recession in individuals with cleft lip and alveolus with or without cleft palate.

Cross-sectional.

Tertiary referral hospital.

A total of 400 individuals with cleft lip and alveolus with or without cleft palate, aged 15 to 49 years, without any previous periodontal treatment.

Gingival recession was evaluated by measuring the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the most coronal point on the gingival margin, analyzing the prevalence and scoring its severity as mild (<3 mm), moderate (3 to 4 mm), or severe (4 mm). The prevalence and severity of gingival recession was compared between sextant 2 (cleft sextant) and the mean of the other sextants (1, 3, 4, 5, and 6: noncleft sextants). The relationship between gingival recession in the cleft area and gender was evaluated and data were analyzed statistically. The correlation between gingival recession and age was assessed also.

There was no statistically significant gender difference in gingival recession. The prevalence and severity of gingival recession increased with age, and most of the affected teeth were premolars and molars. The cleft area did not present a higher prevalence and severity of gingival recession.

Individuals with cleft lip and alveolus with or without cleft palate presented the same prevalence and severity of gingival recession compared with other populations. The area adjacent to the cleft (sextant 2) did not show greater risk of gingival recession than other areas (sextants 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6).