OBJECTIVE: To determine the timing and sequence of eruption of primary teeth in children with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies of the University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil, with a sample of 395 children (128 girls and 267 boys) aged 0 to 48 months, with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. RESULTS: Children with complete bilateral clefts presented a higher mean age of eruption of all primary teeth for both arches and both genders, compared to children without clefts. This difference was statistically signifcant for all teeth, except for the maxillary first molar. Mean age of eruption of most teeth was lower for girls compared to boys. The greatest delay was found for the maxillary lateral incisor, which was the eighth tooth of children with clefts of both genders. Analyzing by gender, the maxillary lateral incisor was the eighth tooth to erupt in girls and the last in boys. CONCLUSION: The results suggest an interference of the cleft on the timing and sequence of eruption of primary teeth.

Este estudo avaliou a prevalência de anquilose dentária em molares decíduos de portadores de fissura de lábio e/ou palato, brancos, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 5 e 12 anos. Um total de 330 pacientes atendidos no Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais da Universidade de São Paulo para tratamento de rotina foi clinicamente avaliado. A prevalência de anquilose foi analisada em relação a gênero, idade (5-7; 8-10; 11-12 anos), tipo de fissura, dente e arco afetados. O grupo total demonstrou prevalência de 18%, sem diferença estatística entre gêneros e tipos de fissura, sendo mais acometido o arco mandibular, o primeiro molar inferior e as faixas etárias de 8 a 10 e de 11 a 12 anos. Os resultados estão de acordo com aqueles observados na literatura para pacientes sem fissuras, destacando a ausência da influência das fissuras na prevalência de anquilose. Isso reforça a importância do diagnóstico precoce dessa anomalia e do tratamento de escolha, que são similares aos de pacientes sem fissuras.

The present study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of tooth ankylosis in deciduous molars of Caucasian children with cleft lip and/or palate aged 5 to 12 years, of both genders. A total of 330 patients seen at the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies of the University of São Paulo for routine treatment were clinically evaluated. The prevalence of ankylosis was analyzed in relation to gender, age range (5-7, 8-10, 11-12 years), type of cleft, affected tooth and arch. The total group showed a prevalence of 18%, with no statistical difference between genders and among types of cleft; ankylosis was more often in the mandibular arch, lower first molars and among children in the age ranges 8-10 and 11-12 years. The results agreed with those observed in the related literature for patients without clefts, pointing out the absence of influence of the cleft on the prevalence of ankylosis. This reinforces the importance of early diagnosis of this anomaly and of the treatment of choice, which are similar in patients with or without clefts.