Unilateral cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth defects. Treatment of cleft lip and palate requires a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach and long-term follow-up. Only a few studies have reported changes after treatment, suggesting that the transverse dimension, in particular, in patients with cleft lip and palate is prone to change after treatment.
The study did not consider any concomitant changes in the mandibular arch that occurred after treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the transverse dimension of the mandibular arch, transverse changes between the maxillary and mandibular arches in patients with complete non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip (CUCLAP) up to five years after treatment.
This was conveyed by promovenda Sariesandy Sumardi when presenting his dissertation entitled “Post Treatment Changes in the Mandibular Arch in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate” at an open doctoral promotion session held by the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia.
This retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted on 75 CUCLAP patients, two years and five years after comprehensive treatment was completed. The transverse dimension of the mandibular arch was measured and the Modified Huddart Bodenham (MHB) Index was used to assess the relationship between the maxillary and mandibular arches. Changes that occur in the mandibular arch are represented by changes in the transverse dimension and the relationship between the jaw arches using the MHB Index.
The Doctoral Promotion Session is headed by Prof. Dr. M. F. Lindawati S. Kusdhany, drg., Sp.Pros(K)., with the Promoter Prof. Dr. drg. Benny Sjariefsjah Latief, Sp.BM(K)., and Co-Promoter Prof. Em. Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman, DDS., Ph.D., and Head of the Examiner Team, Dr. drg. Lilies Dwi Sulistyani, Sp.BM(K) and other Examiners, Prof. drg. Iwan Tofani, Sp.BM(K)., Ph.D., Dr. drg. Nia Ayu Ismaniati, MDSc., Sp.Ort(K)., drg. Benny M. Soegiharto, M.Sc., MOrthRCS., Sp.Ort(K)., Ph.D., drg. Melissa Adiatman, Ph.D., Dr. Mette A.R. Kuijpers, DDS., M.Sc., Ph.D., Dr. Edwin M. Ongkosuwito, DDS., Ph.D.
“There is still a lack of research on long-term changes in patients with complete non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate covering not only the relationship of dental arches and facial changes but also other aspects of treatment outcome. Also, adult individuals with treated clefts deserve more attention in future research,” said Sariesandy Sumardi at the doctoral promotion session held in early January 2022.
Sariesandy stated that patients can be informed about the possibilities that can occur after treatment is completed in terms of the patient’s age at the end of treatment, space closure of missing maxillary lateral incisors and GOSLON score at the end of treatment. He also recommends the use of lifelong retainers in combination with canine-to-canine fixed retainers and Hawley retainers to maintain treatment results especially two years after comprehensive treatment is completed.
