Avaliação transversal de parâmetros periodontais em indivíduos portadores de fissuras de lábio, alvéolo e palato

Abstract

There is a shortage of studies in the periodontics field about individuals with cleft lip and palate, studies that evaluate the periodontal conditions of these patients during orthodontic treatment are even scarcer. The aim of this research was to analyze the periodontal condition during orthodontic treatment, of patients with cleft lip and palate with compromised alveolar bone and evaluate if the cleft region on maxilla presented a higher incidence and severity of periodontal disease. The study group was selected from the Clinical Division of Bucomaxilofacial Prosthodontics subject, from School of Dentistry of University of São Paulo, which consisted of 43 patients between 11 and 35 years old with cleft lip and palate, non-syndromic, who had already undergone primary reconstructive surgeries, and who have been in treatment with fixed orthodontics for more than 6 months. During a periodontal clinical exam of the maxilla, the measurements of depth probing, clinical level of insertion, bleeding on probing and plaque index were carried out. The exams were performed by an experienced periodontal examiner who was calibrated previously. The periodontal evaluation showed that the region of the maxilla affected by the cleft had a higher index of bleeding on probing, which is associated with a higher occurrence of gingivitis. The teeth in the cleft region showed smaller clinical depths of probing than the maxilla average, indicating that there is no greater prevalence of periodontal pockets in the region of the cleft. We did not find any significant statistical differences in the clinical level of insertion of the teeth adjacent to the cleft, so the presence of cleft was not associated with a higher bone loss. Patients in the sample had a shallow probing depth and low insertion loss. This study showed that periodontal disease in individuals with cleft lip and palate occurs in a similar way at all the maxilla.