Summary
The teeth adjacent to the alveolar cleft, in patients with cleft lip and palate, present a higher incidence of periodontal problems, according to the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the temporary teeth adjacent to the alveolar cleft present a higher incidence of periodontal problems in children with non-syndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, born in 2010 and 2011, treated at the Hospital Nacional de Niños “Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera”, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. This prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, and interventional study evaluated epidemiological, clinical and radiographic variables (bacterial plaque, pocket depth, insertion level, gingival recession, bleeding, keratinized and inserted gingiva, dental calculus and mobility, type of alveolar cleft). It used descriptive statistical analysis techniques frequency distribution, crossing of variables and construction of confidence intervals. Data analysis and statistical processing was performed in SPSS version 17.0 and in Excel. The group consisted of 17 patients, with an average age of 5 years. 47 % dental plaque and 0 % dental calculus were found. Pocket depth and bleeding were statistically higher for teeth in the alveolar cleft. The teeth adjacent to the cleft had less keratinized and inserted gingiva. Regarding dental mobility, there is no statistically significant difference. Only one tooth had gingival recession. The complete alveolar cleft predominated radiographically. Teeth close to the alveolar cleft have a greater predisposition to periodontal problems, so regular monitoring of periodontal health is relevant.
KEY WORDS: alveolar cleft, deciduous teeth, probing depth, clinical attachment level, periodontitis, gingivitis
How to cite this article
NAVAS-APARICIO, M. C. & VARGAS-MORA, M. A. Periodontal condition of primary teeth adjacent to the alveolar cleft in patients with non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate, Hospital Nacional de Niños “Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera”, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. Int. J. Odontostomat., 15(4):1009-1018, 2021.
