Prevalence of Treatment of Early Childhood Caries among Children with Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate in Manitoba

Objective To determine the prevalence of treatment of early childhood caries (ECC) using general anesthesia (GA) in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Design Retrospective chart review of children followed by the Manitoba Cleft Lip and Palate Program (MCLPP) to determine the frequency of treatment for ECC under GA. Setting Children's Hospital, Winnipeg, Canada (a tertiary care centre). Patients Children registered with MCLPP between January 1, 2008- December 31, 2019. Interventions The chart review collected data on the following variables: sex, date of birth, postal code, type of cleft, whether child had treatment of ECC using GA, age at the time of GA, and cost of treatment. Main outcome measures Association of CL/P with ECC. Results Overall, 441 children had CL/P. 17% had isolated cleft lip (CL), 46% had isolated cleft palate (CP), and 37% had both cleft lip and palate (CLP). Overall, 24.3% of children with CL/P underwent dental surgery using GA while 14.5% underwent dental surgery to treat ECC between 12-59 months of age. When compared to a reference of Canadian healthy children 12-59 months of age, a child with CL/P was 15 times more likely to require GA to treat ECC. Conclusion Treatment for caries under GA in children with CL/P is common. In the children with CL/P the rates of GA for treatment of ECC are significantly higher when compared to the general population. Children with CL/P require comprehensive oral health prevention to reduce the risk for caries and the need for treatment under GA.