Background and objective: Palatal surgery for cleft lip, alveolus and palate is considered to have the most powerful negative impact on maxillary growth. The aim of this study was to compare dento-alveolar development of the permanent dentition and morphology of the palate after surgery in unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate patients following two types of palatoplasty: supraperiosteal flap vs mucoperiosteal flap technique.
Patients: Thirty-eight patients born between 1976 and 1983 with a complete unilateral cleft of lip, alveolus and palate were studied. Fifteen patients were treated with supraperiosteal flaps (SP group), and the other 23 patients with mucoperiosteal flaps (MP group). In this cross-sectional study, dental casts of stage IV A of Hellman's dental age in each patient were used.
Methods: The following distances were measured: (1). transverse distance C-C', (2). transverse distance M-M', (3). palatal length, (4). palatal height.
Results: No statistically differences were seen between the SP and MP groups regarding C-C' and M-M'. However, palatal length and palatal height were significantly greater in the SP than in the MP group.
Conclusion: The technique that leaves no denuded palatal bone is considered to be advantageous for the development of the alveolar process.