Cleft Lip And Palate: Dental And Orthodontic Challenges
Write briefly on cleft lip and palate.
Or
Write short note on cleft lip and palate.
Or
Write short note on problems associated with cleft lip/palate.
Answer.
Dental Problems
- Natal or neonatal teeth are present.
- Supernumerary or missing teeth are present.
- Presence of ectopically erupting teeth.
- Presence of enamel hypoplasia.
- Presence of microdontia, macrodontia and fused teeth.
- Spacing between the teeth or crowding of teeth is present.
- Mobile teeth are present along with poor periodontal support.
- Presence of posterior and anterior crossbite.
- Malalignment of alveolar arches is present.
Esthetic and Growth Problems
- Development of concave profile with midface deficiency.
- Maxilla is hypoplastic over the clef side.
- Shortening of columella over the clef side.
- There is free communication of flor of nose with oral cavity.
- Wide and flat nasal tip is present.
- Muscles of soft palate are hypoplastic.
- Grossly deficient premaxilla in bone with bilateral cleft
Speech Disorders
- Problem of articulation is common in clef palate patients mainly those involving affricates and fricatives.
- Velopharyngeal mechanism cannot function. The soft palate cannot elevate to make contact with pharyngeal wall and this leads to escape of air in nasal cavity producing hypernasal speech.
- Retardation of consonant sounds is most common problem
Ear Problems
- Clef palate is associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction and leads to hearing loss.
- Otitis media is commonly present.
Airway Problems
Airway distress is created by tongue as it lodges in defective palate.
Psychological Problems
Due to poor esthetics patient lose its confience. This is also exaggerated by poor speech and defect in hearing. Patient might go into depression.
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