Effects of cheiloplasty on maxillary dental arch development in infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate

Objective: To identify and analyze quantitatively the development of the maxillary dental arch before and after cheiloplasty. Design: Prospective, longitudinal study of maxillary dental arch development at age of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Setting: All patients were treated at a university hospital craniofacial center. Patients: Twenty-seven infants with nonsyndromic, unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. I Intervention: Millard's rotation-advancement cheiloplasty was performed between the ages of 3 and 4 months. Results: The anterior portion of the nonclefted segment (I-G), anterior ridge length of the nonclefted segment (I-C), and anterior ridge length of the clefted segment (L-C') continuously increased from 1 to 12 months of age. The anterior cleft width (G-L), anterior arch depth (Iperpendicular toCC'), anterior basal angle (angleGC-CC'), and anterior arch curature angle (angleGIC) continuously decreased after the cheiloplasty. Conclusions: Cheiloplasty could mold the anterior portion of the maxillary dental arch palatally by exerting continuous pressure.