Periodontal disease in patients with cleft palate and patients with unilateral and bilateral clefts of lip, palate, and alveolus

Background: Long-term health of the stomatognathic system, as well as esthe tics, is the therapeutic goal in patients with facial clefts. The aim of th is study was to analyze the periodontal situation of patients with cleft pa late (CP) and cleft lip, palate, and alveolus (CLPA) to elicit the differin g degrees and localization of periodontal disease. Methods: In 30 patients with unilateral cleft lip, palate, and alveolus (UC LPA), 30 patients with cleft palate (CP), and 20 patients with bilateral cl eft lip, palate, and alveolus (BCLPA), the gingival situation was identifie d and classified according to the sulcus bleeding index (SBI). periodontal attachment loss and pathological loosening of teeth were noted for identifi cation of periodontal lesions. The state of oral hygiene was recorded by th e approximal plaque index (API). Results: In general, poor oral hygiene was found in all patients. The SBI s howed a high incidence of gingivitis in patients with cleft lip, palate, an d alveolus. Patients with cleft palate had a minor extent of sulcus bleedin g. Periodontal disease was found to a similar extent to that in the general population in patients with cleft palate, whereas patients with cleft lip, palate, and alveolus had a predisposition to deep periodontal destruction of teeth adjacent to the cleft. The registration of pathological loosening of teeth, a result of attachment loss, corresponded to the degree of period ontal disease shown by the attachment loss. Conclusions: A critical periodontal situation was found in patients with un ilateral and bilateral cleft lip, palate, and alveolus, ultimately leading to tooth loss in the front tooth region. In contrast, patients with cleft p alate exhibited periodontal situations similar to that found in the general population with additional damage, which may be attributed to orthodontic treatment.