Facial Growth and Development in Clefts of theLip and/or Palate: I. Craniofacial Abnormalities, their Causes and Consequences

Overview

The authors describe abnormalities in the development of the cranium and softtissues of the face in different types of facial clefts, their origin, consequences and importancefor treatment. The basic abnormalities from which the majority of others can be derived area reduced length of the maxilla, narrowing of the dentoalveolar arch and dentoalveolarretroinclination, which are of postoperative origin, and a lower height of the upper jaw,a posteroposition of the maxilla and shorter ramus as well as body of the mandible which areof prenatal origin. By orthodontic treatment only the dentoalveolar retroinclination andnarrowing of the dental arch can be influenced. The most serious abnormality is a reducedlength of the maxilla, associated with retrusion, impaired sagittal intermaxillary relations andanterior cross bite, or possibly reduction of the mandibular length associated with posteriorotation and impaired vertical intermaxillary relations. In the soft tissues the basic abnormalitiesare a reduced length and thickness of the upper lip, a broader nose, narrowing of the oral slot (clinically insignificant) and asymmetry of the oronasal region. Deviations are of varying extentand proportion in different types of clefts and differ as to the impact on the patient and histreatment.

Key words:
clefts of the lip and palate – configuration of the face – basic abnormalities –origin and impact of abnormalities