The status of oral hygiene in cleft lip, palate patients after surgical correction

Neurophysiological changes and chronic pain in cleft patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate if patients after orofacial cleft repair experience neurophysiological changes with consecutive chronic pain states after surgery. Patients (n = 48) with a repaired orofacial cleft (CLP) recruited in a support group took part in a survey including five questionnaires. They revealed pain states, described cleft situation and history, and epidemiological data. Patients' quality of life and psychological comorbidity after the surgical procedures were assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), the Giessen Subjective Complaints List (GSCL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Furthermore, psychosocial impairment was documented. 39 out of 48 subjects with CLP reported to have experienced pain during the last 6 months. Pain was proven to be already chronic for 36 persons. Locations of pain were the orofacial region, back and limbs. Neurophysiological perception to cold, warmth, pressure and touch were found to be inhomogeneous. Local disturbances of subjective sensitivity in hard and soft tissues in the operated region are suspicious for neuropathic disorders and peripheral and central sensitization. 16 participants also reported that during dental interventions higher doses of local analgesia were necessary to achieve a pain free condition. Overall participants with CLP demonstrated elevated levels for anxiety and depression. As a conclusion for daily routine, CLP patients are considered to be at a higher risk to develop chronic pain states. To avoid these, proper pain and psychological management must be performed from early childhood. Further clinical studies examining patients with neurophysiological diagnostic tools are needed.

Comparison of oral hygiene and periodontal status in patients with clefts of palate and patients with unilateral cleft lip, palate and alveolus

Aim:

This study was conducted to analyze and compare the oral hygiene and periodontal status in patients with clefts of palate (CP) and patients with unilateral cleft lip, palate and alveolus (UCLPA).

Materials and Methods:

The study group consisted of 120 cleft patients. Subjects were divided into two groups of 60 each. Group I - patients with UCLPA and Group II - patients with CP. For comparison, all the four quadrants were defined, Q1-right upper quadrant, Q2-left upper quadrant, Q3-left lower quadrant and Q4-right lower quadrant, in both groups and the following parameters were recorded: Plaque Index (PI, Silness and Loe), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI, Muhlemann and Son), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Mobility Index (Miller) and Radiographic Amount of Bone Loss.

Results:

The periodontal destruction was seen to be higher in UCLPA patients compared with CP patients. The poor oral hygiene status, as indicated by higher values of PI, and the periodontal status, evaluated by SBI, PPD, CAL, mobility and Radiographic Amount of Bone Loss, were higher in patients with UCLPA than in patients with CP.

Conclusion:

In this study, patients with cleft lip, palate and alveolus had poor oral hygiene and periodontal status compared with patients with cleft palate.