Dentofacial morphological characteristics of unilateral cleft lip and palate patients with anterior cross bite were investigated. Cephalometric radiographs were analysed for 40 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and anterior cross bite (cleft group),40 patients with anterior normal bite and without cleft (normal bite group), and 40 patients with anterior cross bite and without cleft (cross bite group). The cephalometric measurements of 120 patients at Hellman developmental stage III B, were adopted from the analysis of Coben and were selected as parameters to apply the princ ipal component analysis. The conclusions were analysed by t-test as follows When the normal bite group was compared to cleft group, the cleft group showed
1. no statistical difference in the length of maxilla,
2. backward position of point A,
3. backward position of the po s terior border of maxilla,
4. no statistical difference in the mandibular leng th,
5. decreased posterior facial height,
6. increased mandibular ramus angle and gonial angle, and
7. no statistical difference in cranial base length.
When the cross bite group was compared to cleft group, the cleft group showed
1. backward position of the posterior border of maxilla,
2. increased length of the mandible,
3. increased length between body of the mandible and mandibular ramus,
4. decreased height between upper face and lower face,
5. increased anterior lower dental height,
6. retarded growth of posterior face,
7. increased mandibular ramus a ngle and gonial angle, and
8. clockwise rotation of mandible.

View full abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between mandibular bone mass and masticatory dysfunction. Twenty-five CLP patients (CP group) with posterior cross-bite before orthodontic treatment were used as subjects and thirty females (NC group) with acceptable occlusion in the posterior region served as the controls.
Mandibular bone mass was evalua ted in terms of mandibular cortical width (MCW) measured at the mental region on panoramic radiographs. The relationship between the MCW and craniofacial morphology was also investigated by use of correlation analysis. The results were as follows:
1. Mean of MCW was 3.3mm for the CP group, and 3.6mm for the NC group. MCW was significantly smaller in the CP group than in the NC group.
2. In the CP group, the position of the maxilla was significantly more posterior in relationship with smaller ramus of the mandible and larger gonial and mandibular plane angles than the NC group.
3. MCW exhibited a negative correlation with gonial angle in the CP group. A negative co rrelation with anterior facial height and mandibular plane angle and a positive correlation with posterior/anterior facial height ratio were observed in the NC group.
These results suggested that masticatory dysfunction during childhood substantially affect internal structure of the mandible in terms of bone mass as well as the craniofacial morphology.

View full abstract

We developed a new method called the modified buccal musculomucosal flap method for cleft palate surgery. This method has been used on 40 patients. The velophalyngeal function, articulation and palatal fistula after primary palatoplasty have been investigated in those patients. The velophalyngeal function was measured acoustically, aerodynamically, and fibroscopically. Experienced speech therapists evaluated the speech of all patients. Fistulas were checked visually using a needle. The results were as follows:
1) 30 patients (75.0% ) showed good velpopharyngeal closure,7 patients (17.5%) slightly incompetent, and 3 patients (7.5%) incompetent.
2) Articulation disordecs were found in 28 cases (70.0%). Among articulation disorders, glottal stop was most frequent (27.5%) and palatalized articulation was second most frequent (20.0%).
3) Palatal fistulas were observed in 13 cases (32.5%).

View full abstract