Morphological features of the maxilla and palatine bone in children and adolescents with clefts of the alveolar process of the maxilla and hard palate

Background. Maxillary clefts are complex developmental defects that disrupt the anatomical integrity of tissues and key physiological functions: speech, swallowing, and breathing. This pathology significantly impacts the biomechanics of facial skeletal development, especially during puberty. Objective. To determine the morphometric characteristics of the maxilla in children and adolescents with cleft palate and/or alveolar process of the maxilla. Material and methods. A total of 63 children (43 boys, 20 girls) aged 8 to 16 years were examined. A subgroup of 36 patients (25 boys, 11 girls) was selected for detailed morphometry. Measurements were performed using cone beam computed tomography and expressed as median values. Results. Significant gender differences were identified: the dental arch width at the canine level and the longitudinal length of the palate were statistically significantly greater in boys than in girls. No correlation was found between the width of the alveolar clefts and the size of the maxillary palatal defect. However, a positive correlation was found between the size of the palatal cleft at the canine and molar levels, confirming the longitudinal continuity of the defect. Conclusion. The analysis revealed significant gender differences in the linear dimensions of the dental arch width at the canine level and the length of the palate, with larger dimensions observed in boys. No statistical relationship was found between the sizes of the alveolar and palatal components of maxillary defects.