Systematic Review on Complications of The Cleft Lip and Palate as Detected by CBCT
Keywords:
Cleft lip and palate, cone beam computed tomography, complication, diagnosis, treatmentAbstract
Background: Cleft lip and palate are congenital distortions of the upper lip and the roof of the mouth. These cases can cause many problems, like speech problems, feeding problems, and dental abnormalities. Radiographic diagnosis is important for the detection and treatment of these conditions because it allows a detailed evaluation of the anatomical structures.
Aim of the study: To systematically review complications associated with cleft lip and palate as evaluated by CBCT and their inclusion for treatment planning, diagnosis, and long-term treatment.
Material and Methods: This systematic review included studies from 2009 to 2025 that used CBCT to detect complications in people with cleft lip and palate. Databases such as Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched with keywords: “radiograph images”, “complications”, “cleft lip”, “cleft palate”, and “diagnosis”. The articles included were those revealing a clear radiographic presence of complications and their clinical relevance.
Results: The studies reviewed showed that the most commonly detected complications were dental and developmental variations, oropharyngeal narrowing, facial asymmetry, and a reduction in mandibular size. CBCT is a very essential tool for detecting these complications.
Conclusion: CBCT is important for the detection and management of complications related to cleft lip and palate. Radiographs play an important role in early diagnosis and become early interventions for better patient outcomes. The overall care of people with cleft lip and palate needs a multidisciplinary approach including surgeons, radiologists, and speech therapists.
References
[1] Mossey, F ittle, J., Munger, R.G., Dixon, M.J., & Shaw, W.C., 2009. Cleft lip and palate. The Lancet, 374(9703), pp. 1773-178
[2] Dixon, M.J., Marazita, M.L., Beaty, T.H., & Murray, J.C., 2011. Cleft lip and palate: understanding genetic and environmental influences. Nature Reviews Genetics, 12(3), pp. 167-178
[3] De Mulder, D., De Llano-Pérula, M. C., Jacobs, R., Verdonck, A., & Willems, G. (2019). Three-dimensional radiological evaluation of secondary alveolar bone grafting in cleft lip and palate patients: a systematic review. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 48(1), 20180113. https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr.20180113
[4] Barbosa, G. L., Emodi, O., Pretti, H., et al. (2016). GAND classification and volumetric assessment of unilateral cleft lip and palate malformations using cone beam computed tomography. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 45(11), pp. 1333-1340.
[5] Küseler, A., Heliövaara, A., Mølsted, K., et al., 2021. Scandcleft trial of primary surgery for unilateral cleft lip and palate: craniofacial cephalometrics at 8 years European Journal of Orthodontics, 43(4), pp.374-380
[6] Choi, J.Y., Kim, H., Lee, J., et al., 2020. Dental anomalies In patients with cleft lip and palate: a radiographic study. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 31(7), pp. 1907- 1912
[7] Starbuck, J. M., Ghoneima, A., & Kula, K. (2015). Bilateral cleft lip and palate: a morphometric analysis of facial skeletal form using cone beam computed tomography. Clinical Anatomy, 28, 584–592. PMC
[8] Paknahad, M., Shahidi, S., Bahrampour, E., Beladi, A. S., & Khojastepour, L. (2018). CBCT evaluation of mandibular asymmetry in patients with cleft lip and palate. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 55, 919– 924. PMC
[9] Yang, L., Chen, Z., & Zhang, X. (2016). А СВСТ evaluation of facial asymmetry in unilateral cleft lip and palate individuals. Journal of Oral Science, 58, 109–115. PMC
[10] Celikoglu, M., Ucar, F. I., Buyuk, S. K., Celik, S., Sekerci, A. E., & Akin, M. (2016). Evaluation of the mandibular volume and correlating variables in patients affected by unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate: a CBCT study. Clinical Oral Investigations, 20, 1741–1746. PMC
[11] Starbuck, J. M., Ghoneima, A., & Kula, K. (2014). Facial soft tissue asymmetry in 3D CBCT images of children with surgically corrected unilateral clefts. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 25, 476–480. PMC
[12] Zhou, W., Li, W., Lin, J., Liu, D., Xie, X., & Zhang, Z. (2013). Tooth lengths of the permanent upper incisors in patients with cleft lip and palate determined with CBCT. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 50, 88–95. PMC.
[13] Celebi, A. A., Ucar, F. I., Sekerci, A. E., Caglaroglu, M., & Tan, E. (2015). Effects of cleft lip and palate on the development of permanent upper central incisors: a CBCT study. European Journal of Orthodontics,
[14] Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., Yang, L., Shen, G., & Chen, Z. (2016). Asymmetric dental development investigated by CBCT in patients with unilateral cleft lip and alveolus. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 53, 413–420. PMC
[15] Oberoi, S., Chigurupati, R., Gill, P., Hoffman, W. Y., & Vargervik, K. (2009). Volumetric assessment of secondary alveolar bone grafting using CBCT. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 46, 503–511. PMC
[16] Khalil, B., Regnstrand, T., & Jacobs, R. (2025). A novel CBCT approach for quantifying maxillary changes following secondary alveolar bone grafting in unilateral cleft patients. BMC Oral Health, 25, 292. BioMed Central.
[17] Agarwal, A., & Marwah, N. (2016). Assessment of the airway characteristics in children with cleft lip and palate using CBCT. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 9(1), 5–9. PubMed
[18] Kuang, W., Zheng, J., Li, S., Yuan, S., He, H., & Yuan, W. (2021). Three-dimensional analysis of the pharyngeal airway volume and craniofacial morphology in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Cleft Palate- Craniofacial Journal. SAGE Journals.
[19] AlFahdawi, M. A., ElKassaby, M. A., Farid, M. M., & ElFotouh, M. А. (2018). СВCT analysis of oropharyngeal airway in preadolescent nonsyndromic bilateral and unilateral CLP patients. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, 55(6), 883-890.
[20] Celikoglu, M., Buyuk, S. K., Sekerci, A. E., et al. (2014). Assessment of pharyngeal airway volume in adolescent bilateral CLP patients using CBCT. Angle Orthodontist, 84(6), 995–1001. SAGE Journals.
[21] Aras, I., Olmez, S., & Dogan, S. (2012). Comparative evaluation of nasopharyngeal airways of unilateral CLP patients using 3D and 2D methods. Cleft Palate- Craniofacial Journal, 49(6), e75-e81. SAGE Journals.
[22] DIMITRA Project Position Statement. (2017). CBCT in paediatric dentistry: GAND classification and volumetric assessment in unilateral CLP patients. Pediatric Radiology. SpringerLink
[23] MDPI case-control. (2022?). Incidental findings in patients with CLP: a case–control study. Applied Sciences. MDPI.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Pediatrics and Genetics
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
