The effect of infant orthopedics on the occlusion of the deciduous dentition in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (Dutchcleft).

OBJECTIVE Evaluation of the effect of infant orthopedics (IO) on the occlusion of the deciduous dentition in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). DESIGN Prospective, two-arm, randomized, controlled clinical trial with three participating cleft palate centers (Dutchcleft). SETTING Cleft Palate Centers of the University Medical Center Nijmegen, Academic Center of Dentistry Amsterdam, and Dijkzigt University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands. PATIENTS Children with complete UCLP (n = 54) were included. INTERVENTIONS In a concealed allocation procedure, half of the patients was randomized to wear a plate till surgical closure of the soft palate (IO+), and the other half (IO-) did not have a plate. MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES Dental arch relationships were assessed at 4 and 6 years of age with the 5-year-old index; the Huddart-score; and measurements of overjet, overbite, and sagittal occlusion. RESULTS There were no significant differences found between the IO+ and IO- groups for the 5-year-old index; the Huddart-score; and overjet, overbite, and sagittal occlusion. CONCLUSIONS IO had no observable effect on the occlusion in the deciduous dentition at 4 and 6 years of age. Considering the occlusion only, there is no need to perform IO in children with UCLP.