The Eurocleft Study: Intercenter Study of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Complete Cleft Lip and Palate. Part 3: Dental Arch Relationships

Abstract

Objective To compare dental arch relationships up to age 17 in individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) treated at five European centers. Design Longitudinal cohort study, where results were previously reported at 9 years and follow-up measurements were obtained for 12 and 17 years. Setting Multidisciplinary cleft services in Northern Europe. Subjects 127 consecutively treated individuals with repaired UCLP. Main outcome measure Panel rating of dental arch relationship. Results The results revealed that at 17 years of age three of the centers had better ratings in dental arch relationship (means scores: 1.7, 1.9, and 2.2, respectively) than the other two centers (3.3, 3.4) at statistically significant levels (p < .01 to p < .001). Conclusion The results confirm that systematic differences in dental arch relationships may occur between different cleft centers, but do not allow specific causal factors to be identified.