Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Author Spotlight: 3D Movement Assessment of Maxillary Posterior Teeth in Clear Aligner Treatment
Published on: February 23, 2024
Structural outcomes in the Cleft Care UK study. Part 2: dento-facial outcomes.
R Al-Ghatam1, T E M Jones1, A J Ireland1
1School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Children with unilateral cleft lip and palate treated in a centralized, high-volume model (CCUK) showed better facial appearance and dento-alveolar outcomes compared to those treated in a dispersed, low-volume model (CSAG). This highlights the benefits of specialized care for cleft lip and palate treatment.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial surgery
- Pediatric plastic surgery
- Dental and oral surgery
Background:
- Treatment models for non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) vary.
- Previous studies like the Cleft Study Group (CSAG) utilized dispersed, low-volume care models.
- More recent approaches advocate for centralized, high-volume operator models, such as the Cleft Care UK (CCUK) study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare facial appearance outcomes between two distinct treatment models for UCLP.
- To evaluate dento-alveolar relationship outcomes in UCLP patients treated under different care models.
- To assess the impact of care centralization and operator volume on treatment results in UCLP.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis of 5-year-old children with non-syndromic UCLP from CSAG (1998) and CCUK (2013) studies.
- Facial appearance was assessed using frontal view photographs scored by a panel.
- Dento-alveolar relationships were evaluated using study models scored with the 5-Year-Olds' Index; ordinal regression was employed for statistical comparison.
Main Results:
- The CCUK group demonstrated a higher percentage of excellent or good facial appearance (36.2% vs. 31.9%) and significantly better dento-alveolar relationships (53.0% vs. 29.6%) compared to the CSAG group.
- Conversely, the CSAG group had a higher proportion of poor or very poor facial appearance (27.6% vs. 21.6%) and dento-alveolar relationships (36.3% vs. 19.2%).
- Odds ratios indicated significantly improved outcomes for facial appearance (1.43) and dento-alveolar relationships (2.29) in the CCUK cohort compared to CSAG.
Conclusions:
- Centralized, high-volume care models, as exemplified by CCUK, yield superior facial and dento-alveolar outcomes for children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
- The findings suggest that consolidating cleft care within specialized centers with experienced operators positively impacts treatment results.
- These results support the adoption of high-volume, centralized care strategies for optimizing outcomes in UCLP management.
More Related Videos
08:03Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
07:11Treatment of Facial Deformities using 3D Planning and Printing of Patient-Specific Implants
Published on: May 23, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...