Dento-maxillary analysis and related factors in children with Cerebral Palsy

Patients with cerebral palsy attending the Children Rehabilitation Institute (Teleton) at Santiago-Chile present open bite and oral disfunctions. Objective: Determine dento-maxillary anomalies related to cerebral palsy and factors associated to feeding, breathing and parafunctional habits. Method: Descriptive study including 80 children of both sex, between 4-12 years-old, with cerebral palsy. A revision of clinical tiles, extra and intraoral exams and a parents investigation was performed. Results: 83% of children have severe spastic tetraparesis. A high incidence of open bite incisors was found, long faces compatible with dolicofacial growing and labial incompetence. Associated to this facial biotype, mixed breathing with bucal predominance and absence of lateral movements were found in these children. The intermaxillary relation is type I and the Angle's classification is neutron occlusion. In relation to feeding habits, 50% of panel's with tetraparesis eat their food cut in very small pieces, whereas 60% with diplegia and hemiparesia eat their food in a normal way. The parafunctional habits were significant (47%). Conclusions: Cerebral palsy is an important condition in the development of a. demo-maxillary disarmony, like open bite and dysfunctional sthomatognatic system.