Dental maturity in children with cleft lip and palate compared with children without cleft lip and palate living in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Dental maturity assessment is crucial for orthodontic treatment planning, especially in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP), as they often exhibit delayed dental development. The correlation between dental, skeletal, and chronological age remains uncertain, particularly in complex cases like CLP.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the development of permanent teeth in children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) to that of normal children without CLP of the same age and gender.

Materials and methods: The study evaluated panoramic radiographs from 240 children with CLP (112 males, 128 females, ages 5-15, mean age 9.28 years) and 350 healthy controls (187 males, 163 females). Dental age was assessed using the Demirjian method, which evaluates the mineralization stages of seven mandibular teeth on the left side. Radiographs were coded to minimize bias, and dental maturity scores were converted to dental age using gender-specific conversion tables.

Results: No significant difference in dental age was observed between children with and without CLP across most age groups. However, at age 9, male CLP patients exhibited significantly delayed dental maturity compared to females. High correlations were noted between dental and chronological ages in both groups.

Conclusion: Dental maturity in Saudi children with CLP is generally comparable to their non-CLP counterparts, except for delayed dental development in males at age 9.