Research in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate with Regards to Dental Caries
Oral cleft is a facial difference of the inferior part of the face also known as maxillofacial abnormality. This pertains to either splitting of the lip, alveolar bone, hard and soft palate or a combination. The two type of cleft includes unilateral and bilateral cleft. Unilateral cleft is an opening of the upper lip on one side that is either on the left or right of the lip or a combined cleft of the oral cavity. Bilateral cleft is a fissure on the middle part of the oral cavity starting on the lip to the hard and soft palate. An alveolar, hard and soft palate fissure can result in the malformation of the teeth in the oral arch and a possibility of supernumerary teeth. Thus food impaction is visibly evident causing a rampant bacterial growth and towards dental decay. Incomplete fusion of the skin, muscle, and the bone in the early fetal development incompensate oral cleft, however others related factors causing cleft are genetic, environmental, drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and others.
The process of reviewing the medical records of children with oral cleft patients in a limited manner will enable us determine the prevalence of dental caries and other oral problems in a most accurate approach. It will facilitate an efficient preventive program for children with oral cleft. The group of age starts from 4-6 years old oral cleft patient examined since 1993 to 2001. The patient's charts are drawn from the Craniofacial Center at Children's Hospital in Seattle.
