Healthy periodontal condition is a requirement for maintaining a healthy stomatognathic system. Studies have shown that the cleft areas in patients with cleft lip and palate(CLP) are prone to deep periodontal destruction, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Individuals with CLP are at a high risk for periodontal disease progression, and the cleft sides tend to exhibit more periodontal tissue destruction compared with the noncleft sides. Children with CLP have poor oral hygiene and worse average gingival index compared with normal controls. Patients with unilateral and bilateral CLP(UCLP and BCLP) exhibit significant plaque accumulation and gingivitis bleeding. The prevalence of plaque accumulation and gingivitis is higher in patients with CLP than in controls, and plaque accumulation is significantly higher in patients with BCLP than in patients with UCLP. The cleft sides present a higher plaque index and probing depth than the noncleft sides. Periodontal problems in soft and hard tissues have often been reported in patients with CLP. Such problems include reduced keratinized gingiva, gingival recession, gingival inflammation, and decreased alveolar bone height, and all of which can affect the periodontal status. The colonization rate of Saccharomyces in patients with CLP is significantly higher than in healthy control subjects and is highest in patients with CLP who had undergone at least three surgeries and in patients with BCLP. Grafting an alveolar bone to the cleft area is a method to improve the alveolar morphology and increase bone mass. This method helps improve the periodontal status and provides healthy periodontal support for the teeth adjacent to the cleft. The incidence of gingival inflammation is also reduced. Therefore, the aim of this study is to summarize the oral hygiene and periodontal status, including its influencing factors, of patients with CLP.
