A Retrospective Mixed Longitudinal Study of Tooth Formation in Children With Clefts

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics and Craniofacial Development
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Genetics and Developmental Biology

Background:

• Children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) often experience developmental challenges.
• Previous research suggested persistent dental age delays in CLP patients.
• Understanding dental age progression is crucial for orthodontic and surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate systematic age-related changes in dental age among children with CLP.
• To compare dental age progression in CLP cases versus a control group.
• To identify factors influencing dental age, such as cleft type and hypodontia.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control longitudinal study design was employed.
• Dental age was assessed using panoramic radiographs from 102 children with CLP (ages 4-16).
• Linear mixed models analyzed differences in dental age based on sex, cleft type, and hypodontia, compared to 1107 controls.

Main Results:

• Children with CLP exhibited significantly delayed dental age in early childhood (4-6 years).
• Dental age normalized around 8-10 years, showing a curvilinear improvement pattern.
• Hypodontia significantly depressed maturation rates (P < .001), while sex differences emerged post-normalization.

Conclusions:

• Contemporary findings indicate a childhood 'catch-up' in dental age for CLP patients, contrasting older studies.
• Improved management strategies may contribute to quicker normalization of dental development.
• This suggests better long-term outcomes and recovery for children with clefts.