Mesiodistal Angulation of Each Whole Tooth in Patients With Nonsyndromic Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: Is it Symmetrical?

Objective: To assess the symmetry of the mesiodistal angulations of maxillary and mandibular teeth in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and compare with the class I control group without cleft lip and palate (CLP). Design: A retrospective study. Setting: University department. Patients, Participants: The panoramic radiographs of 45 orthodontically untreated individuals with nonsyndromic UCLP (mean age 14.13 +/- 0.75 years) and 45 skeletal class I individuals without CLP (mean age 14.01 +/- 0.74 years). Interventions: The line passing through the most superior points of the condyles was taken as the reference. The angle between the long axes of the maxillary and mandibular teeth and reference line was measured digitally. With the purpose of determining condylar symmetry, mandibular asymmetry index measurements were utilized. Independent samples t test and paired samples t test were used for the statistical analyses. Main Outcome Measure(s): The mesiodistal angulation of the maxillary and mandibular teeth in patients with UCLP was measured. The differences between the contralateral sides were determined and compared to class I individuals without CLP. Results: No statistically significant difference was found among the condylar asymmetry in both groups (P > .05).The significant differences between the cleft and noncleft sides in the UCLP group was observed in the maxillary central, canine, first premolar and second molar teeth (P < .001, P = .002, P = .013, P = .012, respectively). The mean differences were found to be higher in the central and lateral incisors, canines and first premolars in the UCLP group (P < .001, P = .006, P = .001, respectively). Conclusions: Although the cleft-side maxillary central incisors tipped in a distal direction in patients with UCLP, the canine and first premolar showed more inclinations toward the mesial direction.