Second premolar agenesis as a subclinical phenotype of isolated cleft palate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of dental anomalies in patients with isolated cleft palate with or without hypodontia of the second premolar.

SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 653 patients with isolated cleft palate aged 8-12 years were divided into two groups: G1-subjects without hypodontia of second premolar (n = 546) and G2-subjects with hypodontia of at least one-second premolar (n = 107). The control group consisted of 107 non-cleft orthodontic patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Panoramic and periapical radiographs and dental casts were used to analyze the presence of dental anomalies. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the chi-square test complemented by Proportion test and Bonferroni test.

RESULTS: G2 presented higher prevalence of hypodontia of other permanent teeth compared to G1 and control. Ectopic eruption of the maxillary canine and tooth transposition were more frequent in patients with a cleft compared to patients without a cleft, without statistical differences. Deciduous molar infra-occlusion and second premolar disto-angulation were less prevalent in G1 and G2 compared to the control group. G2 showed a higher prevalence of complete cleft palate than G1.

CONCLUSION: Patients with cleft palate and second premolar agenesis showed increased prevalence of tooth agenesis and palatally displaced canines.