Maxillary arch dimensions in bilateral cleft lip and palate from birth until four years of age in boys.

Objective: To describe the development of maxillary arch dimensions in children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) during the first 4 years of life and to compare it with that in noncleft children.

Methods: This was a retrospective, mixed-longitudinal study. Methods: The study was conducted at the Cleft Palate Center of the University Hospital of Nijmegen. Methods: The sample consisted of 26 boys with BCLP who were born between 1976 and 1990 and treated at the University Hospital of Nijmegen. Data for a control group of 34 noncleft boys were collected at the University Hospital of Amsterdam. Methods: Palatal arch dimensions were digitized on dental casts. A comparison between BCLP and noncleft dimensions was made at fixed time intervals.

Results: At birth, anterior and posterior arch widths as well as arch depths were significantly larger in children with BCLP. After 7 months (lip closure), anterior arch width and arch depth diminished considerably in the cleft group. After 12 months (palatoplasty), a slight decrease in posterior arch width was observed, and arch depths showed slight catch-up growth. At 4 years of age, anterior arch width was significantly narrower and anterior arch depth was shorter in children with BCLP than in control subjects. Posterior arch width was significantly wider.

Conclusions: During the first 4 years of life, maxillary arch dimensions in children with BCLP show a unique development that is significantly different from that in noncleft children.