Objective: To analyze and identify changes in the maxillary dental arch before and after cheiloplasty in a group of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) infants. Design: This is a cohort study. Material and Method: Study models from 16 infants with nonsyndromic UCLP, who were treated at Khon Kaen University, were taken before (T1) and after cheiloplasty (T2). The dental models underwent a process of scanning through a 3D scanner, from which 9 linear and 2 angular landmarks were evaluated. Paired t test was used to compare the measurement statistically between T1 and T2. Results: Alveolar cleft gap (G-L), anterior basal angle (∠GC-CC′), and anterior arch curvature angle on greater segment (∠GIC) were significantly decreased ( P < .05). Contrarily, anterior ridge length of greater segment (C-I), anterior ridge length of lesser segment (L-C′), and posterior arch width (T-T′) were significantly increased ( P < .05) after cheiloplasty. While, anterior portion of greater segment (I-G), anterior arch width (C-C′), anterior arch depth (I⊥CC′), arch length (G⊥TT′), and arch circumference (T-C-I-G-L-C′-T′) showed no significant difference. The measurements were tested using the Intraclass correlation coefficient. The coefficients indicated high reliability. Conclusion: Cleft gap significantly decreased after lip repair, and the anterior part of maxillary dental arch was also bent palatally after cheiloplasty without any other intervention except cheiloplasty. More studies are needed to assess the amount of lip pressure. If any convincing force is presented, an appliance to prevent undesirable pressure is indicated.

Objective This study aimed to review all research evidence of presurgical cleft size and related factors to success of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG). Design and Setting The systematic review searched the OVID-Medline®, PubMed®, Embase®, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) up to August 2020. Two reviewers independently selected potential abstracts for full review. Disagreeements were resolved by consensus. The first author extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using Risk of Bias in Non-randomized studies—of Interventions tool. Patients and Interventions Patients with non-syndromic clefts who received SABG were selected. Presurgical cleft size/volume and treatment results must be available. Main Outcome Measures Level of the grafted bone, achievement of orthodontic tooth movement into the grafted area, need for re-operation. Results From 962 abstracts, 23 publications were included. Mean cleft width was 6.80 ± 1.98 mm, cleft area 20–240 mm2, and mean volume 0.89 ± 0.33 cm3. No definite conclusion was achieved on whether a narrow or wide cleft showed better treatment outcomes, but other potentially related factors were good oral hygiene and eruptive force of the maxillary canines. Lack of a standard definition of cleft size, a small sample size, varying outcome parameters, and moderate-to-high risk of bias contributed to the summary. A meta-analysis could not be performed because of the heterogeneity. Conclusion Due to insufficient evidence, cleft width/volume could not be specified leading to more successful SABG. Care of patients could be improved in both research by following rigorous methodology, and practice by clear communication.

Objective: To evaluate dental changes in cleft patients after undergoing orthodontic treatment for at least 2 years. Hypothesis: The dental change would decline significantly after 2 years of completing orthodontic treatment. Design: This is a retrospective study. Patient: Eighteen repaired cleft lip and palate patients from the Faculty of Dentistry, KhonKaen University, Thailand, participated in this study. Mean Outcome Measures: A dental model with before treatment (T0), completed treatment (T1), and retention period (T2) data was analyzed using the peer assessment rating (PAR) index. Result: The results showed that the PAR score improved enormously after treatment; from T0 to T1, it was 34.00 ± 10.01 to 4.67 ± 2.47, and there was a reversion in the retention period. There was statistical significance between T0, T1, and T2, with P values <.001, .005, and <.001 when comparing T0 with T1, T1 with T2, and T0 with T2, respectively. Conclusion: Occlusion in cleft lip and palate patients changed from the time of completing treatment to the final results after the retention period. To sustain satisfactory results, orthodontists should plan carefully for the retention period before performing the treatment.

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Objective: This study aimed to observe and analyze the effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) on maxillary arch dimensions in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP) using 3-dimensional analyses. Design: Retrospective case series. Materials and Methods: Seventeen infants were treated using modified Khon Kaen University presurgical nasoalveolar molding devices (KKU-NAM). Dental casts were evaluated 3 dimensionally at 3 time points: pretreatment (T1), after using modified KKU-NAM for 2 weeks (T2), and before cheiloplasty (T3). Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Friedman test were used to compare the maxillary arch dimensions between time points. Results: Both sides of the cleft width, premaxilla deviation, and premaxilla protrusion had significantly reduced with the use of KKU-NAM. Premaxillary rotation had significantly improved, whereas the arch depth did not change significantly. Premaxilla width, posterior arch width, alveolar length, and height had significantly increased. The anterior arch width, intercanine width, and lateral sulcus width showed no significant changes. The intraclass correlation coefficient used to test the measurements indicated substantial reliability. Conclusion: The modified KKU-NAM is an effective device for reducing the severity of bilateral cleft deformities, especially in the premaxilla area.