Mandibular Radiomorphometric Characteristics of Individuals with Bilateral or Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Objective This study aimed to investigate and compare the mandibular radiomorphometric characteristics of patients with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP) with those of individuals without CLP and to determine whether there was a difference. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Orthodontic Department in Faculty of Dentistry. Patients and Interventions Mandibular cortical bone thickness was measured on high-quality panoramic radiographs taken from 46 patients with unilateral or bilateral CLP aged 13-15 years and 21 control patients. Main Outcome Measures Three radiomorphometric indices [antegonial index (AI), mental index (MI), and panoramic mandibular index (PMI)] were measured bilaterally. AutoCAD software was used for MI, PMI, and AI measurements. Results Left MI values were significantly lower in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP; 0.029 +/- 0.04) than in individuals with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP; 0.033 +/- 0.07). In addition, right MI values of individuals with right UCLP (0.26 +/- 0.06) were significantly lower than those of individuals with left UCLP (0.34 +/- 0.06) or BCLP (0.32 +/- 0.08). No difference was observed between individuals with BCLP and left UCLP. These values did not differ between groups. Conclusions Antegonial index and PMI values did not differ between individuals with different types of CLP or when compared with control patients. In patients with UCLP, cortical bone thickness was found to be reduced on the cleft side compared to the intact side. Patients with UCLP with a right-sided cleft had a more substantial decrease in cortical bone thickness.