The effects of face mask therapy in cleft lip and palate patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Children treated with cleft lip and palate often develops mid-facial retrusion. In this study 20 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were treated with face mask and studied for the effect of growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were treated by the same orthodontist using the same techniques and appliances. Mean pre- and posttreatment ages were 8.7 and 9.5 years, respectively. Each child was matched by ethnicity, age, sex, and the SN/MP angle to an untreated (noncleft) control. The treatment period with face mask was approximately 7 months and 5 days. RESULT: The study showed definite protraction of the maxilla for UCLP group (P < 0.001). The posterior maxilla of the UCLP group underwent anterior displacement while the maxillary incisors showed greater anterior movement than expected for untreated control group (P < 0.01). Vertical changes of the maxilla showed no significant differences in cleft group. The mandible of the UCLP group was rotated inferiorly and posteriorly (P < 0.05) while control group showed inferior and anterior changes. The lower incisors were stable in the two groups. CONCLUSION: From this study, it can be inferred that the UCLP group show significantly anterior maxillary movements when compared with the control group when face mask is used as per prescription.