Abstract
The major problem of orthodontic treatment in patients with cleft lip and palate, exists in the imbalance of the relationship between the upper and lower jaws due to underdevelopment of the maxilla. To accelerate forward growth of the maxilla, the maxillary protraction appliance has been used in cleft lip and palate patients, generally in the mixed dentition period. However, the results of treatment vary between different patients and between patients of different ages. Recently, it has been recommended in some reports to perform maxillary protraction in the deciduous dentition period because of the greater potential of growth. The present study concerns eleven female patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate, treated with the maxillary protraction appliance with chincap at our clinic. Their treatment started at the deciduous dentition stage. The purpose was to investigate the treatment effect within the first year. The results were as follows:
1. Normal overjet was obtained in most patients within the first year of treatment.
2. Disharmony of jaw relationship was improved in all patients with the mean increment of 3.48 °at ANB angle.
3. The mean effect in anterior displacement of the maxilla was 2.4 mm. Half of the patients revealed a marked change exceeding 3 mm, while two cases of the remaining patients revealed less than 1 mm.
4. Maxillary protraction beginning in the deciduous dentition period was considered to be m ore effective than that beginning in the mixed dentition stage, however, limitations might still exist in patients with the lowest growth potential.
