Prevalence of Dental Anomalies in the Dentition of Non-syndromic Oral Clefts Children in Comparison to Normal Children (A Case-Control Study)

Abstract

Aim: The current research aimed to assess the prevalence of dental abnormalities in the dentition of non-syndromic oral cleft lip and/or palate children compared to normal children. Subjects and methods: The study included 246 Egyptian children (4-12 years); the cleft group included 123 non-syndromic cleft children, and the control group included 123 apparently healthy children. Clinical and radiographic examinations were conducted to evaluate the presence or absence of dental anomalies in non-syndromic oral clefts children compared to normal children. Results: The study found that 99.2% of oral cleft patients had dental abnormalities, with hypodontia being the most prevalent. The majority of these anomalies were hypodontia (83.7%), rotation (53.7%), enamel defect (42.3%), malposition (14.6%), supernumerary teeth (13.5%), root dilaceration (10.6), taurodontism (10.6%), and impaction (7.3%) in the cleft category. In contrast, the controls had rotation (25.0%), hypodontia (7.3%), impaction (2.4%), and root dilaceration (1.6%), while no cases were reported regarding enamel defects and taurodontism. Conclusion: Oral clefts could be considered an etiological factor in the increased prevalence of dental anomalies. The occurrence rates of different types of clefts vary, and the distribution of existing dental anomalies varies between the cleft and the controls.