Association of the profile of individuals with cleft lip/palate with the beginning of orthopedic/ orthodontic treatment

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is the most frequent congenital malformation among the anomalies of the head and neck. The orthopedic/orthodontic treatment is included in the rehabilitation of these individuals, however there is no consensus in the literature regarding the ideal time for its beginning. Objective: To verify and characterize the profile of individuals with CLP treated at a reference hospital of the northeast of Brazil from 1998 to 2013 and its association with the beginning of the orthopedic/ orthodontic treatment. Material and methods: Through direct observation of medical records, panoramic radiograph, and study casts of 323 individuals, data regarding sex, cleft type, origin and age of beginning of the orthopedic/orthodontic treatment were surveyed and analyzed using the chi-square test, considering a 5% level of significance. Results: Most of the individuals had transforamen and the unilateral cleft was the most prevalent (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences occurred relating the beginning of the orthopedic/orthodontic treatment with geographic origin and sex of, although most of them have started treatment at late mixed dentition. Conclusion: Regardless of gender, origin, or cleft type, most patients started orthopedic treatment up to 12 years-old, an age considered ideal by most protocols. Unilateral and trans-foramen cleft were the most prevalent cleft types. post-foramen cleft affected more females, while trans-foramen cleft affected more males.