Structural Morphology and Swallowing in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
Giulia Montagnese, Delfino Allais, Patrizia Defabianis, Irene Vernero, Massimo Spadola Bisetti
Cleft and lip palate patients need a multidisciplinary approach, but the actual protocols are different and often linked to individual situations. The aim of this research was to describe the craniofacial characteristics and swallowing in a population of subjects with cleft and lip palates aged between 3 and 14 years, to identify the correlations between the orthodontic and swallowing aspects useful for integrating them. The study was carried out on a sample of 56 subjects, evaluated by lateral cephalometry analysis and speech therapy observation. Interviews with 18 families were also carried out to identify possible gaps in speech therapy sessions. The data collected provided some interesting reflections, we are working to further expand the database and continue the research. The collected sample can also be used for future studies on the subject, to better understand how functional aspects and the orthodontic intervention can be integrated ever more effectively in the management of these patients.
Keywords
Cleft lip and palate, Swallowing, Occlusal relationships, Cephalometry, Craniofacial growth.
