Dental abnormalities in permanent dentition in children with submucous cleft palate

Abstract

Seventy‐three children with submucous cleft palate (38 girls and 35 boys), mean age 8.2 years (range 7.7–9.5), were studied retrospectively from orthopantomograms. Dental abnormalities in permanent dentition were found in 26 patients (36%). Missing teeth, mainly lower 2nd premolars, upper lateral incisors, and upper 2nd premolars, were found in 12 patients (16%). Most of the patients had 1 or 2 missing teeth, 2 had 3 missing teeth. In 5 patients hypodontia was associated with another dental abnormality. Other dental abnormalities included peg‐shaped lateral incisors in 7 patients (10%), ectopic eruption of upper 1st molars in 6 patients (8%), transposition of upper canines and 1st premolars in 3 patients (4%), supernumerary teeth in 2 patients (3%), and palatally displaced upper canines in 1 patient (1%). As children with submucous cleft palate have a tendency towards increased frequency of missing teeth and other dental abnormalities, the need for thorough clinical and radiological dental examination is emphasized.