MAXILLARY ARCH DIMENSIONS IN BILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE FROM BIRTH UNTIL 4 YEARS OF AGE IN BOYS

Objective: To describe the development of maxillary arch dimensions in children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) during the first 4 years of life and to compare it with that in noncleft children. Desi gn: This was a retrospective, mixed-longitudinal study. Setting: The s tudy was conducted at the Cleft Palate Center of the University Hospit al of Nijmegen, Subjects: The sample consisted of 26 boys with BCLP wh o were born between 1976 and 1990 and treated at the University Hospit al of Nijmegen. Data for a control group of 34 noncleft boys were coll ected at the University Hospital of Amsterdam, Method: Palatal arch di mensions were digitized on dental casts. A comparison between BCLP and noncleft dimensions was made at fixed time intervals. Results: At bir th, anterior and posterior arch widths as well as arch depths were sig nificantly larger in children with BCLP After 7 months (lip closure), anterior arch width and arch depth diminished considerably in the clef t group. After 12 months (palatoplasty), a slight decrease in posterio r arch width was observed, and arch depths showed slight catch-up grow th. At 4 years of age, anterior arch width was significantly narrower and anterior arch depth was shorter in children with BCLP than in cont rol subjects. Posterior arch width was significantly wider. Conclusion s: During the first 4 years of life, maxillary arch dimensions in chil dren with BCLP show a unique development that is significantly differe nt from that in noncleft children.