Dental treatment of a child with oral cleft: a case report

Resumo

The cleft lip and palate are the most common facial
congenital malformations, developing in the early embryonic stages
between the fourth and eighth week of intrauterine life. Objective:
To present the dental treatment of a child with cleft lip and palate
under general anesthesia. Case report: Patient, aged four years,
with cleft lip and palate, living in an indigenous village in the city
of Vilhena, Rondônia, Brazil, with poor hygienic conditions and with
dental caries, needed dental treatment under general anesthesia. The
clinical examination revealed that the child had impaired general
health by the presence of several wounds in the feet and nails,
low weight, and many carious lesions. Discussion: In addition to
parents’ instructions and monitoring of multidisciplinary team, it is
important to know the life of the patients with oral cleft, to target the
most appropriate treatment to be successful in their rehabilitation
process. Conclusion: Children with cleft lip and palate can have
their quality of life improved through adequate care.