A Three-Dimensional Scale for the Qualitative and Quantitative Assessments of Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting (SABG) in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

Background The objective of our study was to derive an objective assessment scale for three-dimensional (3D) qualitative and quantitative evaluation of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) using cone-bone computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Methods CBCT scans for pre- and 3-month post-SABG were reviewed for bone volume, height, width, and density of the bony bridge formed in the cleft defect in 20 patients with UCLP. Basic descriptive and principal component analysis was used to extract the various sub-components of the scale. Spearman's correlation was used to check the validity of the scale, and intra-class coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's α were calculated to establish the reliability and retest applicability of the scale. Results Each CBCT scan was assessed in five areas: cementoenamel junction (CEJ), root apex, root midpoint, 3 and 6 mm below CEJ, and tabulated in percentiles of 20, 25, 40, 50, 60, and 75 for all the parameters (bone volume, density, and width). These scores were validated when correlated to the scale given by Kamperos et al. Cronbach's α for the domains demonstrated acceptable to excellent internal consistency. The ICC showed good test-retest reliability having a range of scores from 0.89 to 0.94. Conclusion The proposed scale for the 3D assessment of SABG in patients with UCLP provides gradation for the objective assessment of the bony bridge. This gradation enables the qualitative and quantitative assessments of the bony bridge, thus allowing each clinician to judge SABG more conclusively.

Comparison of dentofacial morphology between parents of children with and without craniofacial anomalies using cephalogram imaging.

Objective: To compare cephalometric parameters in parents of children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) and parents of children without any craniofacial anomaly. Methods: A sample of 100 sets of parents were segregated into two groups of 50 parents each. The two groups included parents of children with BCLP and the parents of children with no craniofacial anomaly. Lateral cephalograms and postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms were examined for 100 parents of both the BCLP and control group, respectively. Tracings were scrutinized for 34 linear and angular parameters of dentocraniofacial skeleton. Data were analysed using unpaired Student's t-test. Result: Evaluated lateral cephalograms revealed 15 significant parameters in parents of children with BCLP including a significant increase in Ptm-S, maxillary length, SNA, articular angle and gonial angle. A significant decrease was noted in SN length, cranial base flexion, mandibular length, mandibular body length, total facial height, upper facial height, posterior facial height, Y-axis length and soft tissue total anterior facial height. Upon evaluation of PA cephalograms, four significant parameters were found in parents of children with BCLP. Cranial width, bizygomatic width, maxillary width and lateral interorbital width were significantly decreased in the parents of children with BCLP. Conclusion: Distinct dentocraniofacial morphological features have been found in parents of children with BCLP. Evaluation of these features might be the key to predicting the occurrence of clefts in their children and also planning for future linkage analysis studies amongst them.