Craniofacial and Occlusal Characteristics in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients from Four Scandinavian Centres

Craniofacial morphology and dental occlusion were studied at early school age in 15 consecutive patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate from each of four Scandinavian cleft centres. Treatment differed mainly in the techniques of palatal repair. Push-back closure of the palate particularly impaired maxillary development, which resulted in an increased incidence of crossbite and reduced intercanine distance when compared with patients who had been operated on by the von Langenbeck method or in whom the anterior palate had not yet been closed.