Evaluation of dehiscence and fenestration in adolescent patients affected by unilateral cleft lip and palate: A retrospective cone beam computed tomography study

ABSTRACT Objective:  To evaluate the presence of dehiscence and fenestration defects around anterior teeth in the cleft region and to compare these findings with the noncleft side in the same patients using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods:  CBCT scans of 44 patients (26 males, 18 females; mean age, 14.04 ± 3.81 years) with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were assessed to define dehiscences and fenestrations of the anterior teeth in both cleft and noncleft sides of the UCLP patients and a control group of noncleft patients (51 patients; 21 males, 30 females; mean age, 14.52 ± 1.16 years). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s χ2 and Student’s t-test. Results:  The prevalence of dehiscences at the maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines teeth were 43.2%, 70.6%, and 34.1% on the cleft side and 22.7%, 53.1%, and 27.3% on the noncleft side of UCLP patients, and 13.7%, 7.8%, and 13.7% in controls, respectively (statistically no difference between the sides of cl...