Objective To compare dental arch relationships in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) between two surgical techniques for repair of cleft lip/palate and two ages of palate repair. Settings and Sample Dental models were taken for a group of 448 subjects at a mean age of 7 years and were evaluated by means of the Goslon Yardstick. The patients studied consisted of an initial group of 673 infants with complete UCLP randomized into 8 study groups according to lip repair procedures (Millard versus Spina techniques); palate repair procedures (von Langenbeck versus Furlow techniques); and palate repair timing (early: 9 to 12 months versus late: 15‐18 months). Methods Four surgeons performed all surgeries. Dependent variables included the following: lip repair technique, palate repair technique, age at time of palate repair and surgeon; with sex as an independent variable. The data were analysed using a general linear model (P < .05). Results There were no significant differences for occlusal index scores as a function of lip or palate surgical technique, palatal repair timing and sex. Significant differences were found for occlusal index scores as a function of the surgeon. Conclusion Dental arch relationships were not influenced by lip and palatal repair techniques or patient age at palatal repair. The surgeon was the major factor that influenced the dental arch relationship outcome.

Ao grande amor da minha vida, meu esposo João Brosco por ser meu porto seguro e o meu melhor amigo, por caminhar comigo por caminhos às vezes estreitos, mas sempre repletos de amor e felicidade. É teu abraço protetor que sempre procuro, que me enche de força e me ajuda a prosseguir com paz. E é nesse caminho sertanejo ao som da viola que somos felizes. Aos meus amados pais José Manuel e Nircinha, pelo legado de valores que nos deram de graça, de respeito ao próximo, amor, união, paz, dignidade, integridade, honestidade em qualquer situação, conseguindo passar esses valores para seus cinco filhos. Amo vocês "meus velhinhos". Aos meus quatro irmãos adorados Mara, Nilma, Weber e Tamer e minhas cunhadas e cunhados queridos, Silvia, Dieyne, Roberta e Hely, Fátima e Gustavo, Antonieta e Wagner, a vida com vocês é uma festa. É um privilégio nossa convivência, essa cumplicidade que enriquece e ilumina minha alma. Esse carinho gostoso que transforma espinhos em rosas. Amo vocês. Aos meus filhos do "coração", Ricardo, Daniel, Juliana, Camila e Murilo, pelo amor pela vida, pelo carinho e pela alegria que trazem para nossa vida. Aos meus queridos sobrinhos Danielly,

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the palate re-repair by the auditory-perceptual assessment of speech. Method: Nonsyndromic individuals with operated cleft palate ± lip and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), aged 6–22 years (10 men and 10 women), were referred to secondary palate surgery by the Sommerlad technique. Speech characteristics related to velopharyngeal function (VPF) were analyzed by auditory-perceptual assessment using digital audio recording 5 days before and 13 months after the palate re-repair, on average. Hypernasality, global impression of VPF, and active speech symptoms were scored and blindly rated by three experienced speech-language pathologists before and after surgery. The effect of age and the type of cleft on the outcomes was also analyzed. Results: Surgical success, interpreted as the elimination or reduction of hypernasality, was observed in 13 of the 20 patients analyzed (65%). Adequate nasality was observed in 55% of the patients, and the degree of hypernasality decreased from moderate to mild in 10% of the patients. Postoperative normal nasality was only seen among the children (73%). There was a tendency for better outcomes in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Conclusions: The auditory-perceptual assessment of speech showed that re-repairs were effective in eliminating hypernasality and normalizing VPF in the majority of children analyzed, but not among the adults. In view of these results, the Sommerlad surgery should be prioritized in children as a secondary intervention in order to eliminate VPI.