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Updated: May 30, 2026

Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture
Published on: September 19, 2015
Soft-tissue characteristics of operated unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients in mixed dentition
Ren-kai Liu1, Peter Wamalwa, Da-wei Lu
1Department of Orthodontics, West China College of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to provide quantitative information about the facial soft-tissue characteristics of operated unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP) children compared with healthy children during mixed dentition.
Methods:
Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 48 children with UCCLP who had been operated on before the age of 2 years were analyzed and compared with those of a control group of 60 healthy children with the same age, sex, and ethnic characteristics.
Results:
The children with operated UCCLP differed from the control group by having a more concave profile, flatter nasal tip, more retrognathic basis nasi, shorter upper lip, thicker upper and lower lip, reduced upper-lip projection, and increased lower-lip projection.
Conclusions:
The facial soft-tissue morphology in operated UCCLP patients differed from normal controls of the same age, sex, and ethnic group. It may be necessary for children with UCCLP operated before 2 years of age to have some preventive treatment.
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