Quality of life in children with cleft lip and palate: pilot study

Objects: The quality of life and oral health of cleft lip and palate children has gain increasingly interest because oral disorders may present negative effect on the quality of life of these individuals. Accordingly, questionnaires aiming to evaluate the impact of oral health on the well-being have been developed and adapted. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and oral health (CPQ8-10) of cleft lip and palate children. Methods and results: Forty-two children were selected, aging from 8 to 10 years-old, at mixed dentition. The children selected were divided into groups according to the type of cleft: Group I - Cleft Lip (n = 7); Group II - Cleft Lip and Palate (n=28); Group III - Cleft Palate (n=7). Each child filled in a questionnaire about the impact of oral disease on quality of life (CPQ8-10). Generally, Group I children affirmed that their teeth are "very good" = 28.57%, and "good" = 42.85%. The participants of Group II and III reported "a little" = 42.5% and 57.14%, respectively, with a greater discomfort with their dental conditions. Concerning to the halitosis perception, Group III exhibited the highest percentage ("sometimes" = 42.85%), followed by Group II ("sometimes" = 32.14%) and Group I ("sometimes" = 14.28%). Conclusion: The pilot study conduction was satisfactorily and the methodology is recommended for a larger sample. To date, it is suggested that the cleft type did not influence on the perception of the patients regarding to the quality of life