FISSURA BILATERAL COMPLETA DE LABIO E PALATO: ALTERACOES DENTARIAS E DE MA OCLUSAO – RELATO DE CASO CLINICO

Lip and palate clefts are congenital malformations that bring about a series of alterations that compromise esthetics, speech and tooth positioning in individuals. The occurrence of the anomaly varies according to the case under study, however, studies in Brazil reveal a frequency of 37.1%, of which 12.2% are bilateral complete lip and palate clefts. A bilateral cleft presents serious malocclusion problems, thus altering the breathing, phonation, deglutition and nutrition functions. The aim of this research is to present clinical orientation to the professionals of the area, especially dentists, focusing on tooth alterations and malocclusion. We present a clinical case of a complete bilateral lip and palate cleft in which the patient received a rehabilitative treatment from early childhood through adult life, the orthodontic part being performed from 1987 to 2002, by means of orthopedics and orthodontic mechanics, based on the Edgewise technique. We concluded that the solution for such cases can only be attained through the joint work of a multidisciplinary team, which would make the social reinsertion of the patient possible. We also point out the importance of studying the peculiar characteristics of each case, as well as the dental alterations, in order to obtain success in the treatment of patients with lip and palate clefts.