Soft-tissue Profile Changes In Patients With UCLP Under Therapy With Rapid Maxillary Expansion And Protraction Facemask

Objective By analyzing and comparing the digital X-ray cephalo-grams of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patient (UCLP) before and after therapy with rapid maxillary expansion and protraction facemask; we study the effect of soft-tissue profile changes in patients with UCLP under therapy with rapid maxillary expansion and protraction facemask.Methods The panoramic digital pictures were selected from the database of the Orthodontics Department of XiangYa Hospital, Central South University from July2007to January2009. The sample which is chosen according to the inclusion criteria. The selected patients’ages were within7years old to12years old, in the peak period of growth and development or befor. Average age is9.3years old. The treatment time is about1year or one year and a half. Average treatment time is13.7months.21indexes were carefully measured by digital ruler and protractor on each patient’s cephalogram. The results were collected and analyzed by SPSS19.0. Rezults By analyzing the unilateral cleft lip and palate patients before and after the maxillary protraction combined rapid expansion treatment, we find out that the A-A’thickness,Ls-Ls’thickness,Li-Li’ thickness,B-B’thickness, Pog-Pog’ thickness have no significant differences after therapy (P>0.05); After therapy, Prn-Y, A’-Y, Ls-Y increased (P<0.05); Li-Y, B’-Y, Pog’-Y decreased (P<0.05);ULL,LLL, Sn-Mes increased(P<0.05);Ls-E increased (P<0.05).After treatment Li-E have no significant differences (P>0.05);Gl’-Sn-Pog’, H angle, Li-B’-Pog’ increased after treatment (P<0.05); G’-Prn’-Pog’, Prn’-Sn-Ls,have no significant differences after treatment (P>0.05)Conclutions The middle face of UCLP moved forward,the low face was moved backward and downward with rapid maxillary expansion and protraction facemask.The concave soft tissue facial profile of UCLP can be effectively improved with rapid maxillary expansion and protraction facemask.