Predisposing Factors to Dental Caries in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Review and Strategies for Early Prevention

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doi: 10.1597/05-112
The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal: Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 67–72.

Predisposing Factors to Dental Caries in Children With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Review and Strategies for Early Prevention

Lam L. Cheng, B.D.Sc(Hons)., B.Dent.St.
Stephen L. Moor, Cert Dent Thy, Academic Upgrade, B.H.Sc.
Christopher T.C. Ho, B.D.Sc(Hons)., M.D.Sc.

Dr. Cheng is a dental surgeon in private practice and is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in orthodontics at the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Mr. Moor is a dental hygienist and dental therapist, Children's Oral Health Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Dr. Ho is Associate Professor, Discipline of Orthodontics, The University of Queensland, and Senior Orthodontist, Children's Oral Health Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Submitted June 2005; Accepted March 2006.

Objective: To review predisposing factors contributing to dental caries in patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both (CL/P).
Design: Patients with CL/P have a higher susceptibility to caries compared with the population group without clefts. A review of the literature was undertaken to determine factors that could account for the compromised oral hygiene and the high caries prevalence in patients with CL/P.
Results: After a literature review, modern strategies for the prevention of early childhood caries were developed and should be considered for integration into the overall management protocol of patients with CL/P.
Conclusions: Preventive dental care is ever more so important in patients with CL/P compared with patients without clefts.

KEY WORDS: bacteria, caries, diet, oral hygiene, prevention