Comparative 3D study of dental arches in children with microcephaly associated with congenital Zika syndrome, orofacial cleft, and without craniofacial anomalies.

Introduction: The dentist participates in the treatment protocol for craniofacial anomalies in individuals from the first months of life.

Objective: to compare in a retrospective cohort study the morphometry of the edentulous palate of children microcephaly associated with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), unilateral complete cleft lip and alveolus (UCL), and without craniofacial anomalies.

Methods: Forty-five digitized dental molds composed the sample divided into three groups: CZS; UCL; and without craniofacial anomalies (control group). The following measurements were evaluated: intercanine and intertuberosity distances; dental arch length, area, volume, and mismatch superimposition. Parametric and non-parametric tests were applied (α = 5%).

Results: CZS group showed the smallest means of intercanine distance and area than those of the other groups (p = .001 and p = .010, respectively). The dental arch length was greater in the CZS group than in the control group (p = .020). The evaluation of the mismatch superimposition showed that the CZS group had the lowest means of maximum distance and root mean square than that of the UCL group (p = .025 and p = .005, respectively).

Conclusion: CZS participants tended to palatal narrowing, while UCL individuals had parameters similar to those of the control group, despite the alveolus defect.