談唇?裂兒童之蛀牙

唇?兒童的蛀牙率因每個國家及研究方法的不同，而存在著極大的差異（其盛行率自15%至77%不等）。然而大部分的文獻指出，唇?裂兒童比正常孩童有較高的蛀牙率。因此，針對唇?裂兒童建立一套完整的口腔預防保健計畫是很重要的。保持乳齒列的完整，將有助日後齒列矯正及第二階段手術治療的成效及預後。所以口腔的預防保健，不論是對家長或孩童而言，應愈早開始愈好。
The prevalence of caries in cleft lip and palate (CLP) children, varied from 15.4% to 77% among different races and countries. Most studies reported that children with CLP have higher caries incidence except one reported that CLP children did not have higher caries rate in their permanent dentition. Children with clefts should follow a caries preventive program that aims at preserving the primary dentition, thereby facilitating secondary surgical correction and orthodontic therapy later on. Besides, oral health promotion programs for either parents with cleft children or for the cleft children themselves should begin as early as possible in order to prevent caries complications.