This study investigated the craniofacial morphology and growth of cleft palate patients. Common findings among patients included anterior crossbite, a reduced and posteriorly positioned maxilla. Frequent orthodontic issues were deviations of the upper incisors, missing teeth in the cleft area, and asymmetries of the upper dental arch. Regarding growth, some patients had normal facial development while others exhibited a hypoplastic maxilla and middle third of the face. The study aimed to characterize the morphological features and growth patterns of cleft palate patients' craniofacial complexes to help establish appropriate treatment protocols.

1. Craniofacial morphology and
growth of cleft palate patients
K. Siotou1, I. Christopoulou2, A. Apostolaki3, P. Zelou4, A.I. Tsolakis1,5
1Department of Orthodontics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
2Department of Metabolic Bone Diseases, National and Kapodistria University of Athens
3School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
4Grigore T. Popa, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași
5Department of Orthodontics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland

2. Craniofacial morphology and growth of cleft palate patients
• Introduction: Orofacial cleft is a common birth defect that has a significant functional
and aesthetic impact on affected patients. Multidisciplinary teams of surgeons, speech
therapists, orthodontists and pediatric dentists collaborate for the effective treatment of
cleft lip and palate patients. Even though the progress in the management of those patients
is undoubtable, arguments for the appropriate treatment protocol still exist. The aim of
this study is to investigate the dental characteristics and the morphology of the
craniofacial complex in cleft palate patients.
• Aim/ Methods: Young patients with cleft lip and palate sought orthodontic treatment at a
Private Orthodontic Office and at the Orthodontic Department of the National and
Kapodistrian University of Athens. Patients underwent clinical and radiographic
examination.
• Results: The common findings of the patients were anterior crossbite (figure 1), reduced
length of the maxilla and posterior position of the temporal bone relative to the anterior
cranial base (figure 2). Frequent orthodontic problems were also deviations of the upper
incisors (figure 3), agenesis of teeth in the area of ​​the deficit (figure 4), and asymmetries
of the upper dental arch (figure 5). Regarding the development of craniofacial growth, in
some patients, the normal appearance of the face was not disturbed, while in others,
hypoplastic maxilla and middle third of the face were detected (figure 6).
• Conclusions: Our study focused on cleft palate patients, with the aim of reviewing the
basic morphological features and growth of those patients’ craniofacial complex. Multiple
factors affect the morphology of the face of patients with clefts. It is necessary to further
investigate the issue in order to establish the appropriate treatment protocol for those
patients.
Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 3 Figure 4
Figure 5
References
Wehby GL, Cassell CH. The impact of orofacial clefts on quality of life and healthcare use and costs. Oral Dis. 2010 Jan;16(1):3-10.
Wu TT, Chen PK, Lo LJ, Cheng MC, Ko EW. The characteristics and distribution of dental anomalies in patients with cleft. Chang Gung Med J. 2011 May-Jun;34(3):306-14.
Ysunza PA, Pamplona MC, Repetto G. Cleft Palate, Interdisciplinary Diagnosis, and Treatment. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:701850. Figure 6