Three-dimensional evaluation of mandibular volume in patients with cleft lip and palate during the deciduous dentition period

Objectives: To examine the relationship between mandibular volume and craniofacial morphology in patients with cleft lip and palate using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to compare these findings with control (noncleft) patients undergoing CBCT for other purposes during the deciduous dentition period. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients were categorized into the unilateral cleft lip and alveolus (UCLA) group (n = 25; mean age, 4.60 +/- 0.40 years), unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) group (n = 23; mean age, 4.52 +/- 0.39 years), bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) group (n = 22; mean age, 4.54 +/- 0.37 years), and control group without cleft (n = 14; mean age, 5.19 +/- 0.52 years). Mandibular volume and craniofacial cephalometric measurements were obtained using CBCT. All measurements were assessed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using Bonferroni post hoc pairwise comparison tests. Results: ANCOVA revealed no statistically significant differences in mandibular volume among the groups. SNA degrees and ANB degrees were significantly larger in the UCLA and BCLP groups than in the control group. SN-MP degrees was smallest in the UCLA group. Co-A in the UCLP group was shorter than in the UCLA and BCLP groups. Go-Gn was shortest in the UCLP and BCLP groups compared with the control group. Conclusions: Three-dimensional evaluation of craniofacial morphology using CBCT can provide valuable information on malocclusion and other dentoskeletal problems among patients with CLP.