Comparison of periodontal status among patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and cleft lip along with a cleft in palate and alveolus

Abstract

Background and Objectives:A healthy periodontium is an important prerequisite for unhindered dentition and long-term oral health. In cleft subjects, especially in those with cleft lip, alveolus and palate (CLAP), maintenance of oral hygiene is a difficult task for the patients because of the patent oro-nasal communication. Crowding of teeth in cleft patients is a common finding, especially in those with CLAP and those with cleft palate (CP). In the case of multiple tooth-malpositions, transverse deficiency, arch length deficiency and primary cross-bite; periodontal trauma increases and is detrimental to periodontal health. According to literature, a critical periodontal situation was found in patients with CLAP. Hence a study was conducted to analyze the periodontal status of patients with cleft lip (CL); those with cleft palate; and those with cleft lip, alveolus and palate.Materials and Methods:The present study consisted of 60 cleft subjects divided into 3 groups: those with cleft lip; those with cleft palate; and those with cleft lip, alveolus and palate. Subjects with permanent dentition were selected, and the clinical examination included determination of oral hygiene status using Oral Hygiene Index — Simplified (OHI-S) index and periodontal status using community periodontal index (CPI).Results:Statistically significant increase in the periodontal disease in the CLAP group as compared with the other 2 groups, and the oral hygiene was seen to be generally poor with the CLAP group.Interpretation and Conclusion:Individuals with clefts are more prone to periodontal disease due to the presence of cleft, which causes retention of food in the defect sites and inability to maintain good oral hygiene; but the severity of periodontal disease is more if the defect is large and involving the lip, alveolus and palate.

Periodontal Status Among Patients With Cleft Lip (CL), Cleft Palate (CP) and Cleft Lip, Alveolus and Palate (CLAP) In Chennai, India. A Comparative Study

“…The periodontal status was recorded by using a CPITN Index [19]. The present study shows that the healthy periodontium was found to be 38.5% in Cleft Lip group, whereas in a study by Vinita Boloor et al, [6] reported that the healthy periodontium was 28.8%. This difference can be attributed to the regular dental check-up and good oral hygiene practices for the children by the parents in the present study.…”

“…But the presence of periodontitis is seen more in subjects with cleft lip alveolus and palate (CLAP) also more destruction is seen in adjacent to the teeth [6].…”

“…Cumulative periodontal destruction is more in teeth with long supra crestal connective tissue attachment and which is adjacent to the cleft [6].…”

“…The variation range from a cleft of lip, palate and alveolar process. Soft tissue deficiency, malformation of teeth and deficiency in jawbone volume are seen in the cleft site of most of the children [6].…”

“…Good speech and health of the stomatognathic system are therapeutic aims of treatment. Along with the above mentioned goals, long term preservation of tooth must be important in patients with poor oral hygiene with a tendency to plaque retention, increase in transverse deficiency, teeth malpositioning, primary crossbite, arch length deficiency and Dentistry Section periodontal trauma contributes to the detioration of periodontal health [6].…”