ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare results of the growth and development of the upper dental arch and the velopharyngeal closure of the cleft patients treated by two methods. METHODS: The dental cast of patient and X-ray films were measured and the statistical medical records were analyzed. RESULTS: The transverse distance of upper dental arch was found to be wider in group A than in group B. The anterior-posterior distance of the dental arch in bilateral cleft group was shorter in group A than in group B. The difference of the two groups were gradually lessened as age increases. Bony bridge in alveolar gap was 63% and 83.3% in unilateral and bilateral cleft group respectively. 15% of cases in group A and 35.2% in group B needed pharyngeal flap. CONCLUSIONS: The stable upper dental arch in group A can opposes the pressure from the lip muscles, this maintains the width of the arch. But A-P distance of upper dental arch in BCLP in group A should be followed up after the age of 9 years. Pharyngeal flap is needed less in group A than in group B.
