A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF INHERENTLY MISSING PERMANENT DENTITION IN PATIENTS HAVING CLEFT LIP & PALATE

Objective: Therefore, the basic aim of this study is to look into the differences in the pattern of congenitally missing teeth on basis of type of teeth involved (upper permanent lateral incisor [MLI] and upper second premolar [MSP]) among males and females in patients with cleft lip and palate [CLP] visiting the Department of Orthodontics at Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. Materials and Methods: Data from clinical, radiographic & cast analysis of 50 patients with cleft defect (aged 6-15 years) was utilized in this study. Frequencies and percentages of missing MLIs and missing MSPs were calculated. The two teeth in question i.e MLI and MSP were compared via Pearson Chi-Square test on basis of gender. P<0.05 was considered significant. The entire data was interpreted in tabular form. Results: From the 50 patients having CLP defect, MLIs were found to be missing in 68.0% cases, 46.0% had absent MSPs and 33.30% were found to have both MLIs and MSPs missing. High proportion of males had congenitally absent teeth as compared to females. Boys had a higher ratio of congenitally absent MLIs and MSPs than girls. Outcome of the study showed gender predominance of congenitally absent MLIs & MSPs. Conclusion: These upshots imply that maxillary lateral incisor is the frequently absent tooth in patients with cleft deformity succeeded by maxillary 2nd premolar and this pattern of congenitally missing teeth might be influenced by the gender.