Eruption anomalies of the maxillary permanent cuspids in children with cleft lip and/or palate

Eruption anomalies of the maxillary permanent cuspid on the cleft side was analyzed in a sample of 77 children with mono- and bi-lateral cleft lip/palate. The main findings were: 1) The permanent cuspid showed an initial mesial position in relation to the root of its primary predecessor in a relatively high number of cases. Nearly all those cuspids that showed an anomalous position (mesial or distal) in relation to the corresponding primary teeth at the time of the first observation erupted in malposition (palatally in the cleft area, mesially or distally to the primary cuspids). 2) In most cases presenting a mesially positioned permanent cuspid at the time of first observation, the permanent later incisor was congenitally missing, microdontic or in a mesial position in relation to the cleft. 3) Distally positioned permanent cuspids were always associated with a supernumerary lateral incisor. 4) A congenitally missing lateral incisor could represent a predisposing factor to a mesial position of the permanent cuspid. An early radiographic evaluation of the position of the permanent cuspid was suggested especially in those children presenting a congenitally missing lateral incisor.