Incidence of Dental Caries in the Primary Dentition in Children with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Abstract

The incidence of dental caries in the primary dentition was determined in Dutch cleft lip and/or palate children (n = 81) and in children without a congenital malformation (n = 77). In the oral cleft group the incidence of dental caries (0.037; 95% CI 0.031–0.046) was significantly higher than in the control group (0.004; 95% CI 0.002–0.007) with a crude incidence rate ratio of 9.3. Adjusted for oral hygiene, oral cleft yielded a rate ratio (relative risk) of approximately 3.5 (95% CI 1.35–9.28) in the multivariate analysis. Dental caries occurred in 25 children with an oral cleft (30.9%) and in 5 control children (6.5%). All types of teeth were affected in the oral cleft group while in the control group dental caries only occured in maxillary incisors and second molars. The highest incidence of dental caries was found in the teeth beside the oral cleft and in the primary molars of the oral cleft group.

Outpatient dental treatment under general anesthesia in children with cleft lip palate: case report

“…According to Johnsen and Dixon [18] and Bokhout et al [5], there is a higher percentage of dental caries in children with bilateral cleft lip and palate than in those with unilateral clefts. Moreover, the authors also observed a greater prevalence in the teeth adjacent to the cleft and the first permanent molar because of hypoplastic enamel defects, resulting in a rough surface facilitating the adhesion and colonization of cariogenic bacteria.…”

Management of patients with non-syndromic clefts of the lip and/or palate part 2: from primary surgery to alveolar bone grafting

“…1 The parents are therefore encouraged to register the child with a primary care dentist. As children with clefts have an increased caries prevalence when compared with children without clefts, 2 the primary care dentist has an important role in providing prevention advice and to encourage regular dental examinations, either personally or through a dental hygienist/dental therapist. This is to familiarize the child with the dental After primary surgery has been completed, parents of babies with clefts can re-establish the family routine and enjoy their baby's growth and development.…”

“…Early loss of deciduous teeth due to caries complicates any subsequent orthodontic treatment resulting from loss of arch length. 2 It is therefore preferable to restore deciduous molars with stainless steel crowns using the 'Hall' technique than to have them extracted. Any deciduous maxillary incisor tooth that fails to develop in the region of the cleft should be noted and the parents informed that there is a high chance that the permanent successor will be absent as well.…”

Dental care for the patient with a cleft lip and palate. Part 1: From birth to the mixed dentition stage

“…By this time caries may already have developed in the primary dentition. 6,7 In some cases there is not a family dentist and the child then 'slips through the net' for regular dental care (Fig. 2).…”

“…It is important to point out the potential problem areas of plaque accumulation around the teeth in the cleft region. 6 The use of the dental mirror with the child supine will aid demonstration of difficult access regions to the parent by indirect vision.…”