The Influence of Infant Periosteoplasty on Facial Growth and Dental Occlusion from Five to Eight Years of Age in Cases of Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the development of the face and jaws in 36 patients with unilateral total clefts of the primary and secondary palate following treatment by infant periosteoplasty. The follow-up was made as part of a longitudinal growth study in progress at the Uppsala Cleft Palate Centre since 1962. The records included study models, photographs and radiographs. Occlusion was assessed by means of descriptive and numerical methods. Cephalometric analyses were carried out using conventional reference points and planes. It was found that the frequency of anterior cross-bite increased from 36% to 64% from 5 to 8 years of age. The frequency of canine and buccal crossbites decreased during the same period form 97% to 86%. Cephalometric analysis indicated that both the maxilla and mandible were retrognathic. The prevalence of bimaxillary retrognathia and of anterior crossbite was, however, well within the limits reported for other Scandinavian C-UCLP-patients of the same age whose treatment did not include either periosteoplasty or bone-grafting. Good bone formation in the alveolar cleft area as a result of infant periosteoplasty seems to be a stabilizing factor which may help to prevent the relapse of buccal crossbites after expansion of the deciduous dentition.