Geometric morphometric analysis of dental cast and cephalometries of Malays cleft lip and palate
Loading...
Date
2009
Authors
M. Alomari, Amjad
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is the most common congenital oro-facial deformity. Patients with
CLP may have difficulty in feeding, middle ear infection as well as psychological problems.
Management of CLP requires interventions from multiple disciplines which start from the first
day of life and continue up to the adulthood. Moreover, the development of CLP patients does
not follow usual developmental growth after con·ective surgeries. In this study, we aim to
document the morphological differences of Malay children between non-cleft (NC) and CLP, in
term of size, shape and directionality changes applying geometric morphometries method. This
study includes 6-12 years old children, with average age 9.5 ± 1.3 years. They were divided into
three groups; non-cleft (NC), unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), bilateral cleft lip and palate
(BCLP). Ninety three dental casts and lateral cephalometries were collected. Twenty four
homologous landmarks were digitized on upper and lower dental cast and eleven homologous
landmarks on lateral cephalometric. The mean of compared groups were subjected to finite
element analysis (FEA) using MorphoStudio™ software to demonstrate the sources of
heterogeneity in the CLP in term of size changes, shape changes and directionality of shape
changes.
In this study, NC group showed significant differences from CLP group. Upper dental arch and
maxillary complex showed high morphological differences than lower dental arch and mandible,
as cleft affect growth of this area. In comparison of UCLP and BCLP, they were comparable in
result except intercanine width was more constricted in BCLP. Moreover, maxillary length was
longer in BCLP compared to UCLP. For shape changes, upper dental arch and maxillary
complex showed significant changes than lower dental arch and mandible, while directionality
changes of compared groups were non-homogenous.
The difference in morphology of CLP versus NC in this study could contribute important
information to clinician treating the patients.
Description
Keywords
Cephalometries , Malays cleft lip