This study was designed to elucidate morphological characteristics of the upper dental arch and palate of cleft lip and/or palate patients after repair on lip and palate (push back operation). In particular, the extent of surgical influence was examined from maxillary plaster cast of each patient based on three-dimensional analysis by computer. The sample consisted of 33 cases of uni-lateral cleft lip and alveolus (CL),30 cases of cleft palate alone (ICP),40 cases of cleft lip, alveolus and palate (UCLP) and 25 cases of bilateral cleft lip, alveo-lus and palate (BCLP) ranging in age from 7 to 19years.
A narrowing and shortening of the dental arch were seen in each type of cleft. This is especially true in cases with UCLP and BCLP. The palatal volume and area of cleft palate group were significantly decreased compared to those of the control group, with the exception of the CL group. Furthermore, growth of the palate each age group increased as much as control in CP, less than control in UCLP and not seen in BCLP.
The shape of th e dental arch and palate was classified into the following five types by standardized data.
1) Type I had a good dental arch shape, within the length and width of the palate being within normal limits (CL: 100%, ICP: 40.1%, UCLP: 12.5%, BCLP: 8.0%)
2) Type II had a narrow dental arch at the level of the 1st molar or the maxillary tuberosity but the length of the palate was within normal limits (ICP: 30.3%, UCLP: 25.5%, BCLP20.0%).
3) Type IIIA had a shortened dental arch and wide opening of the maxillary tuberosity (ICP: 6.6%, UCLP25.5%).
4) Type MB had a resemblance to Type HIA, but did not show a wide opening of the maxillary tuberosity (ICP: 20.0%, UCLP: 22.5%, BCLP: 32.0%).
5) Type IV had a remarkably shorter and narrower dental arch than the other four types (ICP: 3.3%, UCLP: 15.9%, BCLP: 40.0 %).
In these five types, with advanc ing seriousness, reduction of the palatal depth is observed according as palatal area decreases. Reduction of these palatal depth after palatal surgery had close relationship to the amount of the scar tissue. Therefore, the surgeon must bear in mind to minimize the amount of palatal scar tissue as much as possible.
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