Maxillary dental arch growth in different types of cleft

A total of 45 subjects, 15 complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), 15 complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), and 15 cleft palate only (CPO) were studied. Measurements of alveolar points on maxillofacial models were taken of each subject at 5 months, 19 months and 4 years of age. The results revealed different types of growth retardation among the cleft groups. A comparison with 10 controls at 4 years of age showed that the dimensions of the three cleft groups were smaller than the controls, especially at the anterior region of the maxilla. These findings suggest that the relation of the nasal septum to the palatal processes may play an important role in the underdevelopment of the maxilla in the cleft lip and palate patients.