MAXILLARY DENTAL ARCH AND OCCLUSION IN PATIENTS WITH REPAIRED CLEFTS OF THE SECONDARY PALATE - INFLUENCE OF PUSH BACK PALATAL SURGERY

Maxillary morphology and dental occlusion were studied from infancy to age 10 years in 32 patients born with isolated cleft palate. Wardill- Kilner push back repair of the palate had been done at a mean age of 7 .5 months. Measurements obtained from casts of the jaws showed that th e average maxillary dimensions before as well as after operation were less than those reported for children without clefts. The mean reducti on was similar whether the cleft reached into the hard palate or affec ted the soft palate only. Preoperative anterior maxillary arch width i n particular, and also distance from scar line to selected teeth seeme d to influence postoperative development of the maxillary dental arch in individual patients.