Dental development of the permanent lateral incisor in patients with incomplete and complete unilateral cleft lip

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a possible delay in root development of the permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side compared with its contralateral tooth in patients with incomplete and complete unilateral cleft lip. Design: Retrospective. Setting: Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of Sao Paulo (HRAC/USP), Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Patients: A sample of 95 panoramic radiographs of patients with incomplete and complete unilateral cleft was obtained from the files of HRAC/USP. The patients were both boys and girls of various races, aged 5 to 11 years, and did not have any syndrome or associated congenital malformation. The sample was divided into three groups according to the severity of the cleft lip. Main Outcome Measure: Radiographs were analyzed to compare root development stage of the lateral incisor on the cleft side with the noncleft side according to the classification of Nolla. Results: The mean delay in root development of the permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side ranged from 0.5 to 1.6 scores for all three groups investigated. Conclusions: Root development of the permanent lateral incisor on the cleft side was delayed compared with the noncleft side.