Oral anatomical defects associated with cleft palate and cleft lip

Patients suffering from a cleft palate and/or cleft lip present evident anatomical defects in both formations. However, these developmental disorders are often accompanied by important disturbances in other anatomical structures of the mouth and adjacent tissues that may affect normal dental occlusion and, consequently, the basic functions of mastication and phonation. The objectives of the present work were to describe and discuss the above structural modifications, presenting several clinical cases in which the anatomical defects are described together with the functional implications. The anomalies found include important variations in the number of teeth, the position, disposition and relation of the alveolar processes, and the impairment of dental occlusion. In the cases studied, these anatomical defects have elicited prominent alterations in the normal functions of mastication and phonation, and also in facial aesthetics. Photographs of mouths, dental casts, and X-rays are used to illustrate our report.