Cephalometric analysis of reverse overjet in patients with total unilateral cleft lip and palate.

The study presents a craniometric analysis of facial morphology in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate with reverse overjet well developed. The aim was to find out which structures are responsible for the incidence of reverse overjet. Examined were: 30 patients, aged 12-15, with this affection and 30 age-matched persons with the same type of cleft defect but without reverse overjet. The findings showed that in most cases reverse overjet in clefts is not caused by any greater maxillary retrusion than that found in patients without reverse overjet but by mandibular overjet. An analysis of data confirmed that the overjet is due to the loss of overbite and its non-restoration. With regard to medical practice, immediately after the permanent teeth eruption, it is advisable to restore the overbite in the anterior teeth in order to prevent the development of reverse overjet.