Retrospective evaluation of treatment outcome in Japanese children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Part 1: Five-year-olds' index for dental arch relationships.

Objective: To evaluate the dental arch relationships of Japanese children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and to examine the 5-year-olds' index for its validity.

Design: Retrospective study and comparison with previous reports.

Subjects: One hundred thirty-six children with complete UCLP who received primary cheiloplasty and palatoplasty in the Kyushu University Hospital from 1966 to 1999.

Materials: Dental models taken from children 53 to 67 months of age and their cephalograms.

Methods: Study models were assessed using five scores; 1=excellent, 2=good, 3=fair, 4=poor, and 5=very poor, in accordance with the 5-year-olds' index and also evaluated using Huddart and Bodenham's numerical classification. Dental arch widths, three-dimensional maxillary dental arch form, and lateral cephalograms were traced and measured. The outcome by 5-year-olds' index was compared with Huddart and Bodenham's numerical classification, dental arch dimensions, and cephalometric measurements.

Results: Occlusal outcome evaluated by the 5-year-olds' index was rated 2.95, which was classified as fair. This index rating showed a significant relationship with numerical classification and dental arch length, but not with dental arch width. The index showed a relationship with mandibular form and position, but not with maxillary position.

Conclusion: The occlusal outcome of the cases with UCLP was fair as evaluated using the 5-year-olds' index. The index evaluates the anteroposterior relationship of maxillary/mandibular dental arches but does not evaluate the collapse of maxillary segments.