Abstract
Aim: The aim of the presented study was to establish whether we can find differences in facial soft tissues morphology in patients with cleft palate compared to normal population using 3D facial scan, and to present a non-invasive examination method of 3D morphometrics. Material and method: The sample of patients included 22 men and 26 women.
The most frequent in the patients was cleft hard and soft palate (83%), followed by submucous cleft palate (15%), and cleft soft palate (2%). The age of patients was within the interval 8 years and 1 months and 13 years and 11 months.
The sample was subdivided into three groups according to the age. Measurements were performed with optical scanner 3dMDface System.
The shape of cleft patient's face was compared with physiologically average face of the controls of the given age and sex with SD score. Deviations between the scans were visualized with colour score in each patient.
Results: In most patients the extent of cleft defect correlates with the extent of morphological changes of facial soft tissues. The mean deviation comparing facial maps of patients with cleft palate and the control group is 1.5 (SD).
Conclusion: The results suggest that changes in facial soft tissues in patients with cleft palate are expressed.