Patients not only exhibit poor overall oral hygiene but also a higher prevalence of decay in the cleft region. Adoption of a multidisciplinary approach and collaboration with other healthcare professionals can further enhance overall health and quality of life for these individuals. This is among the first studies in Turkey to simultaneously evaluate anomalies, caries, and gingival health in CLP patients with an a priori power analysis. These findings underline the importance of early, targeted preventive dental strategies in individuals with cleft lip and palate, particularly in the cleft region where caries and dental anomalies are more prevalent. An integrated evaluation of dental anomalies, caries experience, and gingival health may support more effective preventive dentistry and improved long-term oral health outcomes in this high-risk population.
Dogan et al. (2026) studied this question.