Development of the residual cleft in the hard palate after velar repair in a 2-stage palatal repair regimen

Delayed closure of the hard palate is believed to improve maxillary growth and facial appearance in cleft lip and palate patients. However, the cleft opening in the hard palate after velar closure might impair speech development. The aim of this investigation was to study the development of the residual cleft in the hard palate after 2-stage palatal repair (TSPR) in children born with complete cleft lip and palate (bilateral [BCLP]; n=7 or unilateral [UCLP]; n=22) or isolated cleft palate (CP; n=9). Moreover, we aimed to investigate whether any morphologic factors before surgery might predict development of the residual cleft. Dental casts obtained prior to velar repair (mean age 7 months) and postoperatively at 1 1/2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 years were analyzed with a Reflex Microscope regarding the width, length and area of the cleft in the hard palate.The palatal cleft varied in size both pre- and postoperatively in all 3 types of cleft patients. The width of the cleft in the UCLP subgroup showed a marked reduction immediately after velar repair, but then, on average, remained stable until final surgical closure of the hard palate. In the BCLP subgroup the initially rather narrow width of the clefts remained unchanged postoperatively. Clefts in the CP subgroup, especially in those with a complete cleft, remained large after veloplasty. In 4 of the UCLP and 2 of the BCLP patients, the cleft width increased gradually. In some other subjects, both in the UCLP and BCLP subgroups, the residual cleft closed functionally with time, but this development could not be foreseen.     

Misarticulation caused by abnormal lingual-palatal contact in patients with cleft palate with adequate velopharyngeal function.

Misarticulations produced by three patients with cleft palate (2 isolated cleft palate; 1 unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate) who attained adequate velopharyngeal function and normal palatal vault by early surgical repairs were examined using electropalatography (EPG) and sound spectrography (SG). Common characteristics of lingual-palatal contact in which the contact area was broader and/or was more posterior than normal were observed. These misarticulations can be divided into three types based on the direction of the breath emission: palatalized misarticulation (in which air passes along the midline of the palate), lateral misarticulation (in which air flows laterally through the occluded dental arch), and nasopharyngeal misarticulation (in which air flows out the nose). These three are considered to be similar to intractable posterior pattern of articulation in cleft palate patients previously reported. However, these types of misarticulations can be produced by cleft patients who have achieved adequate velopharyngeal function and normal palatal vault.     

Comparison between the palatal configurations in complete and incomplete unilateral cleft lip and palate infants under 18 months of age.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the three-dimensional characteristics of the palatal configurations in incomplete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients and to determine whether there are differences in the effect of early orthopedic treatment between complete and incomplete UCLP patients. DESIGN: Eight infants with incomplete UCLP and 12 infants with complete UCLP, selected at random, wore Hotz plates, and 8 other infants with complete UCLP did not. Palatal impressions were taken of these patients immediately after birth and at 1, 2, 3, 4 (just before cheiloplasty), 6, and 18 months of age (just before palatoplasty). Using our measuring system, the palatal casts were measured and compared three-dimensionally. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The palate of the incomplete UCLP patients measured immediately after birth, compared with complete UCLP, showed: (1) smaller posterior arch width; (2) sagittal arch length did not differ; (3) incisal point was located more mesially; (4) the gap between the alveolar arch forms of the major and minor segments was smaller; and (5) the curvature of the palatal surface forward the nasal cavity in the minor segment was less. At 18 months of age, the following characteristics could be observed: (1) the difference observed at birth in the posterior arch width between the incomplete and complete UCLP infants vanished; (2) a significant difference in the location of the incisal point was observed only between the incomplete UCLP infants and the complete UCLP infants with a Hotz plate; and (3) the curvature was less in the incomplete UCLP infants than in the complete UCLP infants. Furthermore, the morphological change of the palatal surface was less in the incomplete UCLP infants than in the complete UCLP infants. This suggested that any influence of the Hotz appliance might be less in incomplete UCLP than in complete UCLP.     

3-D shape analysis of palatal surface in patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate

Facial development of patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) is associated with many problems including deformity of the palate. The aim of this study was to evaluate palatal morphology and variability in patients with UCLP compared with Czech norms using methods of geometric morphometrics. The study was based on virtual dental cast analysis of 29 UCLP patients and 29 control individuals at the age of 15 years.The variability of palatal shape in UCLP patients was greater than that in nonclefted palates. Only 24% of clefted palates fell within the variability of controls. The palatal form of UCLP patients (range from 11.8 to 17.2 years) was not correlated with age.Compared with control palates, palates of UCLP patients were narrower, more anteriorly than posteriorly. Apart from the praemaxilla region, they were also shallower, and the difference increased posteriorly. The UCLP palate was characterised by the asymmetry of its vault. The maximum height of the palatal vault was anterior on the clefted side, whereas it was posterior on the nonclefted side. The slope of the UCLP palate was more inclined compared with the control group. The praemaxilla was therefore situated more inferiorly.     

Palate morphology after unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate closure

The aim of the present study was to compare the morphology of the hard palate of patients with uni- and bilateral cleft lip and palate after palatoplasty using vomer and palatal pedicled flaps with the palatal morphology of non-cleft individuals. Eighty patients were enrolled into this retrospective study: 40 patients with cleft lip and palate (30 unilateral, 10 bilateral) and 40 non-cleft patients with class I occlusion, who served as controls. Analysis of the development of the maxillary arch and evaluation of palatal morphology were accomplished from reformatted CT scans from plaster casts of the maxilla at the age of 4, 10 and 15 years (cleft patients) and 10 years (controls). Width and symmetry of the maxillary arch and morphology of the hard palate were assessed in the canine and molar region and compared both among the cleft groups and the controls. Maxillary arch width as assessed from plaster casts did not differ significantly between uni- and bilateral cleft patients and was not significantly different from controls at the age of 10. Deviation from symmetry was present in both types of cleft and significant in unilateral clefts when compared to bilateral clefts and non-cleft patients. Palatal morphology did not differ significantly between uni- and bilateral clefts until the age of 15, but was significantly different from control patients in the molar area at the age of 10 presumably due to the medial shift of soft tissue flaps used for palatoplasty. It is concluded that palatoplasty significantly alters hard palate morphology particularly in the posterior area. The relevance of this alteration for speech and articulation remains to be explored.     

Palate morphology of bruxist children with mixed dentition. A pilot study

Summary  The objective of the study was to analyse quantitatively palatal morphology in bruxist and non-bruxist children with mixed dentition. Twenty-three children with mixed dentition were classified as bruxist according to their anxiety level, audible occlusal sounds related by the parents and signs of temporomandibular disorders; 23 children were control subjects matched for gender, age, and dental formula. The maxillary dental arches of all subjects were reproduced from alginate impressions cast in dental stone with a standardized technique. The casts were digitalized and mathematical equations were used to obtain the form of the palate in the sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes. Bruxist children had a statistically significant longer palate in the sagittal plane than control children; palatal shape differed especially in correspondence of the third, fourth and fifth teeth, bruxist children showing a relatively higher palate than control children. In this pilot study, sagittal plane differences in the palate between bruxist and non-bruxist children matched for age and gender were found. Further investigations are needed to understand better the clinical implications of the findings. Results should be taken into account in the diagnosis of the occlusal development in children with parafunctions to prevent future abnormalities: a bruxist child may have bigger dental arches than a normal child.     

西安地区汉族恒牙初期正常牙合腭部形态的三维测量研究

目的：对恒牙初期正常殆腭部形态进行三维方向上的研究,为探讨恒牙初期腭部的发育特点以及制定国人腭部形态的正常指标提供参考。方法：收集符合纳入标准的西安地区汉族恒牙初期正常殆上颌石膏模型,按照年龄以及性别进行分组,结合逆向工程方式采集数据并建立三维模型,利用Geomagic10．0软件从矢状向、水平向及冠状向对相关指标进行三维测量并进行统计分析。结果：腭宽度和腭高度存在性别差异,男性大于女性;男性腭高度有随年龄增加而增长的趋势直到17岁;无论男女,腭部都不是完全对称的,存在（2．14±1．74）。的不对称度。结论：恒牙初期腭部形态存在性别差异、增龄变化以及不对称性,其中男性腭部形态变化较大,以腭高度的增加为主;女性腭部形态则比较稳定,未观察到明显的生长发育变化。     

成人腭裂患者腭盖表面积和倾斜度的比较研究

目的:观察腭裂患者上颌骨是否具有正常的生长发育潜能.方法:应用三维CT扫描成像系统,对比分析正常(牙合)成人、单侧完全性唇腭裂均已手术修补组以及腭裂未手术修补组成人患者的腭盖表面积和倾斜度.结果:腭裂未手术组的腭盖倾斜度显著高于正常对照组,腭盖向颅侧旋转,位置更加垂直;无论腭裂手术修补与否,腭裂患者的腭盖面积均显著小于正常对照组.结论:单侧完全性腭裂患者存在内在性的组织发育不足.     

Three-dimensional hard tissue palatal size and shape in Down syndrome subjects

The aim of the present study was to evaluate palatal morphology in Down syndrome (Ds) subjects, focusing on the effect of dental formula on the hard palate to assist clinicians when planning dental rehabilitation. Palatal landmarks were digitized with a three-dimensional (3D) computerized digitizer on the dental casts of 47 Ds subjects (23 dentate males, 9 edentulous males, and 15 dentate females) aged 20-45 years, 37 dentate reference individuals (20 males and 17 females) aged 30-39 years, and 14 edentulous reference males aged 55-72 years. The co-ordinates of the palatal landmarks were used to construct a mathematical equation of palatal shape, independent of dimensions. Palatal length, slope, width, and maximum palatal height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were measured. In males, palatal length, width, and height were significantly influenced by both the syndrome and edentulism (analysis of variance, P < 0.05). The same measurements were significantly reduced in Ds compared with dentate females (t-test, P < 0.05). In the sagittal plane, Ds did not modify palatal shape; in the frontal plane, Ds individuals showed a higher palate. Overall, palatal shape was influenced by both Ds and edentulousness. Therefore, Ds seems to alter the normal palatal size and shape, although verification on larger samples is required. The findings of the present study may encourage more interdisciplinary dentofacial therapy in the dental and orthodontic care of Ds subjects.     

唇腭裂手术对上颌骨矢状向生长发育影响的研究

目的：研究唇腭裂手术对单侧完全性唇腭裂患者上颌骨矢状向生长发育的影响。方法：混合牙列期单侧完全性唇腭裂仅修复唇裂患者15例,唇腭裂术后患者18例;16岁以上恒牙列期单侧完全性唇腭裂仅修复唇裂患者15例,唇腭裂术后患者15例。所有患者均拍摄头颅定位侧位片,测量分析矢状方向的线距和角度;分别以相应年龄段的非唇腭裂正常者作为对照,采用SPSS11.0软件包对数据进行单因素方差分析（ANOVA）。结果：混合牙列期单侧完全性唇腭裂仅修复唇裂患者表现为上颌长度缩短,而唇腭裂术后患者除上颌长度的缩短外,还存在上颌位置后缩;16岁以上恒牙列单侧完全性唇腭裂仅修复唇裂患者主要表现为上颌位置后缩,存在明显Ⅲ类倾向,术后患者上颌位置后缩外,上颌长度也缩短。结论：唇裂手术及早期腭裂手术对上颌骨矢状向生长可能有干扰作用。     

Biomechanical effects of rapid palatal expansion on the craniofacial skeleton with cleft palate: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biomechanical effects of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) on the craniofacial skeleton with cleft palate. DESIGN: A finite element model of a patient's skull with cleft lip and palate (CLP) was generated using data from spiral computed tomographic (CT) scans. Finite elemental analysis (FEA) was performed to depict the physiological changes and stress distribution in craniofacial structures loaded with orthopedic forces that created 5 mm of displacement on the region of the maxillary first premolar and first molar crown. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: A 14-year-old girl with left complete unilateral CLP was included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Spiral CT was carried out prior to any treatment. Main outcome measure(s): Three-dimensional (3D) features of displacement and stress distribution were analyzed following application of transverse orthopedic force. RESULTS: Marked amount of displacement and deformation occurred in the dental region. Asymmetric displacement and deformation of UCLP under RPE were evident. The stress generated by RPE was dispersed around the cleft palate and nasal cavity, and was distributed at the buttress of the maxilla-inferior border of the nasal cavity, outboard of the orbit, and central frontal bone near the nasion. CONCLUSIONS: Application of RPE to UCLP patients induces a pyramid-like displacement of the nasomaxillary complex along with fan-like expansion of the upper dental arch. The uniqueness of RPE with UCLP, however, lies in the asymmetric expansion and dispersed stress distribution around the lateral maxilla buttress and outboard of orbit.     

An uncommon cleft subtype of unilateral cleft lip and palate

The finding that the vomer plays a crucial role in maxillary growth suggests that the bilateral cleft configuration of unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), in which the vomer is detached from the non-cleft-side secondary hard palate, negatively influences palatal development, and this hypothesis was tested. Sixty persons with complete UCLP, including those with the vomer detached from (n = 30, b-UCLP) and attached to (n = 30, u-UCLP) the secondary hard palate, were analyzed morphologically, with the use of cast models taken at 10 days, 3 mos, and 12 mos of age. The anterio-posterior palatal length at 12 mos of age in those with b-UCLP was significantly shorter than that in those with u-UCLP, by 8.7% (p < 0.05). In addition, palatal width development in the first year in those with b-UCLP was also significantly retarded. These results suggest that the uncommon bilateral cleft subtype in UCLP should be included in the cleft classification.     

A longitudinal study of speech production in Swedish children with unilateral cleft lip and palate and two-stage palatal repair.

OBJECTIVE: To describe speech production longitudinally in a group of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). PARTICIPANTS: Twenty consecutive children with UCLP and nine age-matched children without clefts in a comparison group. INTERVENTION: A two-stage palatal repair procedure with soft palate closure at 6 months and hard palate repair at 3 to 4 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percent correct consonants (PCC), percent correct places (PCP), and percent correct manners (PCM) at 3, 5, and 7 years of age. Cleft speech errors at the same ages. Previously collected data on number of consonant tokens, consonant types, frequency of occurrence of places and manners of articulation at 18 months. RESULTS: PCC and PCP were significantly lower in the UCLP group than in the comparison group at all ages. Number of consonant types and frequency of occurrence of dental plosives at 18 months correlated significantly with PCC at age 3. A high frequency of velar plosives at 18 months correlated significantly with a high prevalence of retracted oral articulation (dental/alveolar to palatal or velar) at both 3 and 5 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The UCLP group performed worse than the comparison group at all ages. A high occurrence of dental plosives as well as a high number of consonant types in babbling and first words seem to be good indicators for better consonant production in later speech. The same prevalence of retracted oral articulation as in previous studies is attributed to the surgical technique.     

Evaluation of cheiloplasty and palatoplasty on palate surface area in children with oral clefts: longitudinal study

This study evaluated the palatal surface area in children with different oral clefts after primary surgeries and at five years of age. This longitudinal study was composed by 216 digital models: unilateral complete cleft lip (UCL), unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP), and complete cleft palate (CP). The models were analysed at four time periods: T1 (before cheiloplasty), T2 (before palatoplasty), T3 (after palatoplasty); and T4 – (at five years of age). Area of the dental arches was measured through stereophotogrammetry software. Measurements evaluated with Student’s test and ANOVA followed by the Tukey test (p<0.05) (AQ 1). In the UCL group, the palatal surface area significantly increased among phases. In the primary surgery periods, UCLP and CP significantly decreased (p<0.001). Palatal area in the UCLP group was significantly greater than the CP group. Overall, no statistically significant differences occurred among groups. At T4, the area of the palate in the UCL group was significantly greater than the UCLP group and no significant differences occurred between UCLP and CP groups. This study suggests that cheiloplasty did not inhibit the growth of the palatal surface area in children with UCL and UCLP. Palatoplasty significantly decreased the palatal area in children with UCLP and CP, demonstrating a significant negative effect of palatal repair on maxillary growth. At five years, children with UCLP and CP had a significantly smaller palate area than those with UCL.     

Investigations on the Palatal Rugae Pattern in Cleft Patients

The characteristics of the palatal rugae zone (number of rugae, relief type, posterior limitation) were investigated on the maxillary casts of 44 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and 28 patients with bilateral clefts by means of reflex microscopy, a three-dimensional, computer-assisted, touch-free measuring system for the metrical registration and analysis of the parameters directly on the maxillary casts for the segments of the 2 cleft groups. The features "number of palatal rugae" and "relief type" (primary rugae) were determined both before and after surgical repair of the cleft palate. Both segments in unilateral cleft lip and palate and both lateral segments in bilateral clefts most commonly had 4 to 5 palatal rugae. The number of rugae in cleft patients is thus in a range that other authors have reported for non-cleft individuals. Following palatal cleft repair, the rugae counts per segment decreased significantly in patients with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate but the 3rd rugae was never lost after surgery. The relief type identified in unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate was the same as in isolated cleft palates and did not differ from that in non-cleft subjects. The posterior limitation of the palatal rugae zone was determined both in a tooth-defined manner and as an absolute linear distance (at all time points). The most frequent tooth-defined posterior limitation of the rugae zone in unilateral and bilateral clefts was the second deciduous molar, which is also the position identified for non-cleft individuals. The linear distance from the tuberosity line to the rugae zone increased in all segments of unilateral and bilateral clefts during the interval up to palatal cleft repair, indicating sagittal maxillary development in the posterior area of the palate. Surgical repair of the cleft palate resulted in a significant shortening of the distance in both segments of the unilateral cleft, most likely due to the displacement of mucosa and periosteum required to cover the palatal cleft.     

Cranial base and facial skeleton asymmetries in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) manifest a plethora of phenotypic characteristics, including asymmetric development of the middle and lower facial skeleton. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the development of cranial base asymmetries in patients with UCLP noted on posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs. METHODS: Thirty individuals with UCLP and 64 controls participated in this study. Medial and lateral cranial base asymmetries were analyzed on frontal cephalometric radiographs relative to three developmental stages. Furthermore, the development of horizontal and vertical lower facial asymmetry in these patients with UCLP was assessed in relation to cranial base, nasomaxillary, and dentoalveolar structures. RESULTS: Individuals with UCLP demonstrated cranial base asymmetries that did not significantly differ from individuals without cleft. In addition, lower facial asymmetry in patients with UCLP correlated with horizontal lower facial and dentoalveolar asymmetries but not with cranial base or nasomaxillary structures. CONCLUSIONS: No significant vertical cranial base asymmetries were detected in patients with UCLP. Horizontal lower facial asymmetry appeared to develop in close relation to the vertical asymmetries of mandibular fossae and dentoalveolus.     

功能性异常语音发音特点的研究

:目的　作者通过对功能性语音障碍病人的异常音分析,阐明异常构音的特点,从而为制定有效治疗计划提供客观依据。方法　经诊断为功能性异常语音的患者共75例(不包括唇腭裂患者),无智力、听力障碍,咬合关系正常;男性:48例,女性:27例,最大年龄为24岁,最小年龄为4岁,平均年龄为8.16岁。根据语音录音资料并反复观察及记录患者唇的开合度、舌位高低与前后、上下牙列关系和下颌运动等构音器官的运动后,得出异常语音清晰度和异常构音。结果　功能性异常语音的异常语音出现率按构音点分:舌尖前音(68.44%)、舌面音(57.78%)、舌尖后音(23.11%)、舌根音(24%)和舌尖中边音(14.67%)、舌尖中音(17.33%),它们可单独出现,也可两种异常音并存;按语音病理学分类:腭化音占37.33%、侧化音占22.67%、齿间音占21.33%、腭化音+侧化音占8%、侧化音+齿间音占5.33%、鼻腔音占1.33%、其它占4%。结论　功能性异常语音的异常音主要出现在辅音中的舌尖音和舌面音,其中以舌尖前音和舌面音最多见。构音时,舌的运动位置改变是造成功能性异常语音的主要原因,由此也形成了以腭化音、侧化音、齿间音为主的异常构音     

正常[牙合]乳牙期腭生长变化的分析研究

目的：研究正常[牙合]乳牙期儿童腭生长特点。方法：采用3D测量分析方法,用数学多项式拟合126例西安地区汉族正常儿童腭的生长图象,对其形态和大小分别按年龄和性别分组进行分析研究。结果：1）腭部大小的改变主要体现在3~5岁之间,3~4岁、4~5岁间差异并不明显;2）随年龄增长,尖牙间腭高度下降,但腭长度增加;3）尖牙间距随年龄增长并不明显;4）牙弓宽度和腭宽度存在性别差异,男性测量值普遍大于女性;5）腭形态的改变：随年龄增长变得更高;男性的腭部形态要宽于女性。结论：乳牙期腭的形态和大小受年龄和性别的影响,在三维方向上均会出现变化。     

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

OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional analysis of palate size and shape in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) at the stage of permanent dentition. SUBJECTS: Thirty randomly selected dental casts of boys approximately 15 years old with complete UCLP and 28 dental casts of normal boys of the same age. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent lip repair according to Tennison with primary periosteoplasty (mean age 8.5 months) and palate repair by pushback and pharyngeal flap surgery (mean age 4.9 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data on the palate height in 210 defined locations. RESULTS: The palate in patients with UCLP was narrower throughout its whole extent, more anteriorly than posteriorly. From the canines posteriorly, it was also lower, and the difference as compared with controls increased in a posterior direction up to the level of second premolars (up to 30%) and then slightly diminished (to 21% between the first molars). The reduction of area of transverse sections reached 45% between premolars and 39% between first molars. The palate in the anterior portion was highest on the cleft side and in a posterior direction the maximum height of the palate shifted toward the midline and even beyond that line toward the noncleft side. Palatal height did not depend on dentoalveolar arch width. CONCLUSION: The smaller width and height of the palate confirm the substantially reduced space for the tongue in patients with UCLP. The reduction is only slightly larger than in previously examined patients with isolated cleft palate. Palatal vault is asymmetrical, highest anteriorly on the cleft side and posteriorly on the noncleft side.     

Palatal size and shape in 6-year olds affected by hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the size and shape of the hard tissue palate of Italian subjects with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The morphology and the dimensions of the hard tissue palate were analyzed in eight 6-year-old boys affected by HED. Four of the boys were completely edentulous and four partially dentate. Palatal landmarks were identified on stone casts and digitized with three-dimensional computerized electromagnetic instrumentation. Palatal length, slope, width, and maximum palatal height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were measured. From the coordinates of palatal landmarks, a mathematical equation of palatal shape was constructed, independent of size. HED palatal data were compared with reference data obtained from 12 healthy boys with a complete deciduous dentition. RESULTS: Palatal length and height in both the sagittal and frontal planes were significantly reduced in HED as compared with control individuals. A less steep (not significant) palatal slope was found in HED than in reference subjects, whereas similar palatal width values were observed. All palatal measurements were larger in partially dentate than in edentulous patients. Both HED and edentulousness influenced palatal shape. The HED boys had a relatively lower palate than the reference boys. In the edentulous HED boys, the hard tissue palate was relatively lower than in partially dentate HED subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Palatal size and shape were significantly modified by the presence of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, and the major alterations were found in edentulous HED subjects.