Evaluation of tooth size in non-syndromic cleft lip and palate patients: A retrospective Italian study

Aim This study aims to evaluate the dental dimension in cleft lip and palate patients presenting agenesis of at least an upper lateral incisor and to compare the results with those of two control groups. A control group consisted of general orthodontic patients without agenesis, while the other group consisted of orthodontic patients with agenesis of at least one upper lateral incisor. Methods Records of 40 (30 male, 10 female) cleft lip and palate patients (Group A), 40 (17 male, 23 female) patients representing the control group of general orthodontic patients (Group B) and 40 patients (14 male, 26 female) with at least one missing lateral incisor (Group C) were collected and analysed. Mesiodistal tooth size of all teeth (except second and third molars) was measured on digital or plaster dental casts. Results Tooth size in cleft lip and palate patients (Group A) was similar to that of the control group (Group B) of general orthodontic patients without tooth agenesis, except for the upper central incisors and the second upper left bicuspids that presented a significant reduction in the mesiodistal dental width. Non-syndromic patients with at least one missing upper lateral incisor showed a significant reduction of mesiodistal tooth size compared to Group A and to Group B. Conclusion Dental width of cleft lip and palate patients is similar to that of a normal orthodontic population, with the exception of the upper central incisor and upper premolars on one side.