OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is any difference between the cleft and non-cleft sides of the mandible in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients, or the right and left sides in control patients; and to determine if there is any difference between the mandibular asymmetry of UCLP patients and that of control patients. METHODS: We examined cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 15 patients with UCLP and 15 age- and gender-matched control patients. We evaluated 8 linear, 3 surface, and 3 volumetric measurements and compared the cleft/non-cleft sides of UCLP patients and the right/left sides of controls. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant gender differences in any linear, surface, or volumetric measurement. The single significant side-to-side difference in UCLP patients was a longer coronoid unit on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side (p = 0.046). Body volume was significantly lower in the UCLP group than in the control group (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In general, UCLP patients have symmetrical mandibles, although the coronoid unit length is significantly longer on the cleft side than on the non-cleft side. UCLP patients and controls differed only in body volume.
Cleft Lip ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Mandible ; Palate

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the changes in mandibular arch widths and buccolingual inclinations of mandibular posterior teeth after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). METHODS: Baseline and post-expansion cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images of patients who initially had bilateral posterior cross-bite and underwent RME with a banded-type expander were assessed in this study. The patients included 9 boys (mean age: 13.97 +/- 1.17 years) and 11 girls (mean age: 13.53 +/- 2.12 years). Images obtained 6 months after retention were available for 10 of these patients. Eighteen angular and 43 linear measurements were performed for the maxilla and mandible. The measurements were performed on frontally clipped images at the following time points; before expansion (T1), after expansion (T2), and after retention (T3). Statistical significance was assessed with paired sample t-test at p < 0.05. RESULTS: T1-T2 comparisons showed statistically significant post-RME increases for all measurements; similarly, T2-T1 and T3-T1 comparisons showed statistically significant changes. The maxillary linear and angular measurements showed decreases after expansion, and mandibular linear and angular measurements increased after retention. CONCLUSION: All mandibular arch widths increased and mandibular posterior teeth were uprighted after RME procedure.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Palatal Expansion Technique ; Retention (Psychology) ; Tooth