How Does Cleft Affect Dental Development?
Dental development is often affected by cleft lip and palate. Here is what parents should know.
Cleft lip and palate affect dental development in several ways. The cleft itself passes through the gum (alveolar ridge), which is where teeth grow.
- Common dental issues:
- Missing teeth: The lateral incisor (next to the cleft) is often missing
- Extra teeth: Supernumerary teeth can occur near the cleft
- Rotated or tilted teeth: Teeth around the cleft may grow in wrong positions
- Delayed eruption: Teeth near the cleft may come in late
- Crossbite: The upper jaw may be narrow, causing teeth to bite inside the lower teeth
- Hypoplastic teeth: Enamel may be thin or pitted
- Treatment:
- Pediatric dentist on the cleft team from infancy
- Early evaluation at age 2-3
- Space management before bone grafting
- Alveolar bone grafting (6-10 years) provides bone for teeth
- Orthodontic treatment in adolescence
- Possible dental implants in adulthood
- Number of teeth affected:
- In unilateral cleft: usually the tooth next to the cleft is affected
- In bilateral cleft: teeth on both sides may be affected
- The upper teeth are primarily affected; lower teeth are usually normal
Clinical Guidance
Cleft lip and palate commonly cause missing, extra, or rotated teeth near the cleft. Early dental care, bone grafting, and orthodontic treatment address these issues. Most dental problems can be successfully managed.