Dental age in 6-year-old children with submucous cleft palate and cleft of the soft palate

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate dental age in 6-year-old children with submucous cleft palate (SMCP) and to compare this in age-matched and sex-matched children with clefts of the soft palate (CPs). Material and Methods. The dental maturity of 73 children (39 girls) with SMCP was evaluated from panoramic radiographs and compared in age-matched and sex-matched controls with CPs. Mean biological age of the children was 6.1, ranging from 5.5 to 6.8 (boys 6.2 years, range 5.7–6.8; girls 6.1 years, range 5.5–6.7). Dental stages were assessed following the method of Demirjian, and dental age was calculated in accordance with the Finnish dental maturity reference values. Student's paired t-test was used in the statistical analysis. Results. There were no significant differences in dental age between the sexes, such that boys and girls were combined in the further analyses. Dental age of the children with SMCP (6.2 years, range 4.9–7.4) was similar to their biological age (NS). Dental age of those with CPs was 0.2 years delayed (dental age 5.9 years, range 4.6–7.5; p<0.001) compared to their biological age. Children with CPs had a lower dental age than children with SMCP (p<0.001). Conclusion. Dental maturation in 6-year-old children with submucous cleft palate is not delayed, whereas in children with clefts of the soft palate dental age is slightly delayed.