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Maxillary dental development in complete unilateral alveolar clefts
A Solis1, A A Figueroa, M Cohen
1Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60612, USA.
Summary
Maxillary tooth development is significantly delayed on the cleft side in children with alveolar clefts. Teeth near the cleft, especially lateral incisors and canines, show the most developmental delay and variability.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Craniofacial Biology
Background:
- Alveolar clefts are congenital conditions affecting maxilla development.
- Understanding tooth development in cleft patients is crucial for treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare maxillary tooth development in individuals with complete unilateral alveolar clefts to unaffected children.
- To identify specific teeth with developmental differences in cleft patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 179 panoramic radiographs from 79 subjects with complete alveolar clefts.
- Root development of permanent maxillary teeth was scored (0-5) using a predefined system.
- Statistical comparison with unaffected reference groups.
Main Results:
- Cleft-side dentition showed significantly delayed development compared to the non-cleft side (p < .05).
- Lateral incisors, canines, central incisors, and premolars on the cleft side exhibited delayed development ranging from 0.78 to 1.59 years.
- Teeth adjacent to the cleft site demonstrated the most significant delays.
Conclusions:
- Maxillary tooth development is significantly delayed in individuals with complete unilateral alveolar clefts.
- Lateral incisors and canines adjacent to the cleft are most affected and show higher variability.
- Findings can guide orthodontists in timing treatment for optimal outcomes before alveolar bone grafting.