OBJECTIVE: The assessment and establishment of the facial growth pattern for patients with a cleft palate. MATERIAL: This cross-sectional retrospective study was based on front and profile photos of a sample of 71 patients at the HRAC-USP, 22 males and 49 females, Brazilians, young adults, with a mean age of 17 years 8 months, without previous orthodontic treatment and no associated syndromes. The method was the subjective facial diagnosis based on technical concepts, that is, the qualitative morphologic analysis of the face through clinical examination. Individuals were classified as Pattern I, II, III, Long Face or Short Face. RESULTS: The distribution found with the frontal morphologic analysis was: Pattern I (69%), II (6%), III (7%), Long (18%) and Short (0%). As for the profile morphologic analysis, the distribution was: Pattern I (35%), II (38%), III (10%), Long (17%) and Short (0%).The distribution observed in the frontal analysis was very positive, since individuals Pattern I prevailed. For the profile evaluation, the anterior-posterior dysplasias were essentially shown, significantly increasing their participation. Long Face Pattern maintained a balance in both ratings and Short Face Pattern was not found in the sample used, probably related to the low prevalence in the general population. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of different Facial Patterns for patients with cleft palate was similar to that found in individuals without cleft.
Cleft palate; Orthodontics; Growth
