Evaluation of primary dentition in cleft lip and palate children with and without natal/neonatal teeth

Objective: Natal/neonatal teeth are very common In children with complete u nilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate. The extraction of these teeth is the usual treatment in the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies. The objective of this study was to verify whether these teeth co uld be of the normal complement or whether they were supernumerary. Design: The primary dentition of children with cleft lip and palate with an d without natal/neonatal teeth was compared at the Hospital for Rehabilitat ion of Craniofacial Anomalies. Subjects: The sample consisted of 55 children with complete unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate with natal/neonatal teeth and 54 without. Results: No positive association between these groups and missing lateral i ncisor or supernumerary or complete dentition was found. Conclusion: The extraction of the natal/neonatal teeth did not alter the fi nal complement of primary teeth, and these teeth could be the lateral incis or or supernumerary.