PREVALENCE OF CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE AMONG PATIENTS VISITING A DENTAL INSTITUTION

Abstract

Orofacial clefts are formed when the right and left side of lip or palate do not fuse together completely during foetal growth, that results in formation of a gap in between them. It also can be categorised into syndromic orofacial cleft and non syndromic orofacial cleft. The aetiology of cleft lip and palate are seen to be multifactorial in association with parental ethnicity, geographical origin, and socio-economic status. This abnormality may cause aesthetic, structural and functional defects to babies. To determine the prevalence of cleft lip and palate among the Chennai population. The present retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients that visited our institute in Chennai, India. The sampling for the study was done from June 2019 till February 2020, by simple random sampling method. About 74 cases were reviewed, which consisted of 34 female patients and 40 male. Data collection was done by reviewing patients dental records. Then, the collected data was recorded in MS excel sheet and tabulated. Cleft palate (40.5%) was more common than cleft lip (21.6%) and cleft lip and cleft palate(37.8%). Gender predilection shown than cleft lip and cleft palate affecting males (54.1%) more compared to females (45.9%). There were no significant findings in association of cleft lip and cleft palate with consanguineous marriage of parents based on their family history (Chi square test, P=0.370). Based on the results obtained, negative correlation was seen with gender (chi square test, p=0.717). On top of that, positive statistical significant correlation was seen between cleft lip and cleft palate with cleft lip repair (chi square test, p <0.000) as well as cleft palate repair (chi square test, p <0.000). Cleft palate is more prevalent compared to cleft lip and cleft lip and cleft palate. Male was commonly affected with a cleft lip and cleft palate. There was no significant association of cleft lip and cleft palate with consanguineous marriage of parents. Majority of the patients underwent primary repair of cleft lip and cleft palate.