[Variations in arch and tooth size in the upper jaw of cleft palate patients]

The size of the upper dental arch and of the upper permanent teeth in a group of cleft lip/palate patients of both sexes, 12 years of age and older were compared to a control group of normal patients. Our results showed a significant size reduction in all of the longitudinal arch dimensions in cleft lip/palate patients. It was also seen a significant reduction of the intercanine and intermolar width dimensions. Mesiodistal and buccolingual teeth diameter reductions were observed in patients with left unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate, being this feature remarkable in the central and lateral incisors. Differences in size between antimeric teeth were only observed in upper lateral incisors in patients with left unilateral clefts. The relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on our patients was not determined with the results obtained in the present investigation.