Three-dimensional morphology of the palate in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate at the stage of permanent dentition.

Objective: Three-dimensional analysis of palate size and shape in 30 patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLPc) at the stage of permanent dentition.

Design: Cross-sectional study based on laser scanning.

Subjects: Thirty dental casts of boys approximately 15 years old with BCLPc and 28 dental casts of healthy boys of the same age.

Interventions: Arched-lip suture with periosteoplasty and push-back of the palate with pharyngeal-flap surgery.

Main Outcome Measures: Data on palate height in the 210 defined locations and on palate widths and profile area in 10 transverse sections.

Results: The palate in patients with BCLPc was conical and narrower than in control study subjects, much more anteriorly than posteriorly. From the canines posteriorly, the palate was of almost constant height of 10 mm in the midline, being higher than in control study subjects at this location and lower more posteriorly (by 24% to 29% between molars). The area of transverse sections was reduced as compared with control study subjects from the first premolars posteriorly and reached more than 40% between molars. The length of the palate up to the first molars was not changed.

Conclusion: BCLPc subjects exhibited narrow, low, and flat palate. Palate size and shape differences indicate a substantial reduction of the space for the tongue.