Pulp enlargement in individuals born with cleft lip and palate pulp, a radiographic study from the cleft lip and palate service of paraiba, Brazil'.

PURPOSE Pulp chamber enlargement impacts endodontic treatment planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in pulp chamber size of posterior teeth in individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate. METHODS Ninety individuals were treated at the Cleft Lip and Palate Service of the University Hospital Lauro Wanderley, Federal University of Paraiba, between the ages of 4 and 15 years born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate were selected. Ninety-nine patients from the archives of the residency program in Orthodontics of the Brazilian Dental Association (ABO) were paired by sex and age as a comparison group. Radiographs were evaluated by a single examiner, observing the presence/absence of an enlarged pulp chamber in the first and second permanent molars of all quadrants. Chi square or Fisher's exact tests were used (α = 0.05) in all comparisons. RESULTS Pulp enlargement was more frequently found among individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (p = 0.0005). However, pulp enlargement frequency was different among subjects born with clefts (p = 0.0006). Pulp enlargement was more common in the maxilla, in both groups. Individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate more often had six or more teeth affected (p = 0.02). Furthermore, individuals with a bilateral cleft more often had six or more teeth affected in comparison to unilateral cases (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION Pulp enlargement is a frequent finding, particularly among individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, with a higher prevalence in the maxilla.