Predisposing Factors to Dental Caries in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Review and Strategies for Early Prevention

Objective: To review predisposing factors contributing to dental caries in patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both (CL/P). Design: Patients with CL/P have a higher susceptibility to caries compared with the population group without clefts. A review of the literature was undertaken to determine factors that could account for the compromised oral hygiene and the high caries prevalence in patients with CL/P. Results: After a literature review, modern strategies for the prevention of early childhood caries were developed and should be considered for integration into the overall management protocol of patients with CL/P. Conclusions: Preventive dental care is ever more so important in patients with CL/P compared with patients without clefts.