Are Dental Maturation, Skeletal Maturation, and Chronological Age Associated With Complete Cleft Lip and Palate?

Objective: The relationship between dental and skeletal development levels was determined in individuals with cleft lip and palate and a control group comprising individuals without cleft lip and palate.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting: A university clinic specializing in orthodontic and pedodontic care.

Patients: A total of 198 patients with cleft lip and palate (99 females, 11.66 ± 2.36 years; 99 males, 12.44 ± 2.33 years) and 198 patients without cleft lip and palate (99 females, 11.88 ± 2.26 years; 99 males, 12.99 ± 2.25 years).

Interventions: None.

Main Outcome Measures: The Demirjian method and cervical vertebra maturation method were used to evaluate panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs, respectively. The Fishman maturation predictors were determined from hand-wrist radiographs.

Results: Statistically significant correlations were found between the chronological age and the dental age in both the groups ( < .05). Significant correlations between skeletal maturation indicators and dental maturation indicators were observed in both groups and sexes ( < .05), with a stronger correlation among teeth with incomplete dental maturation. Dental age was found to be significantly lower (female, = .001; male, = .001) in individuals with cleft lip and palate (female, 11.71 ± 2.58 years; male, 12.51 ± 2.62 years) compared to those in the control group (female, 12.95 ± 2.47 years; male, 13.64 ± 2.37 years).

Conclusions: A high correlation between the results of the evaluated radiographic methods and chronological age supports their use for accurate age estimation in the patients with cleft lip and palate.