Nasolabial Esthetic Evaluation in Young Adults with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Comparing among Patients, Laypersons, and Healthcare Professionals
Supamas Parisanyodom DDS*, Jutharat Chimruang DDS, PhD*, Saran Worasakwutiphong MD, FRCST**, Bowornsilp Chowchuen MD, MBA, FRCST***, Ratchawan Tansalarak DDS, MSc, FRCDT*
Affiliation : * Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand ** Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand *** Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : To compare esthetic rating of nasolabial appearance among young adult patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP),
young adult laypersons, and healthcare professionals.
Material and Method: Frontal and cleft side profile facial pictures of a 19-year-old patient with unilateral cleft lip and palate
(UCLP) were adjusted (frontal view: incremental 2 degrees per picture to simulate 10 pictures for nasal tip deviation and 14
pictures for alar base asymmetry; profile view: with incremental 3 degrees per picture to simulate 14 pictures for nasolabial
angle). Fifty-seven examiners were randomly selected and grouped into three, namely patients with CLP, young adult
laypersons, and healthcare professionals to assess nasolabial esthetics using a 5-point scale. Intra- and inter-examiner
reliability tests showed good agreement. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson’s Chi-square test were used.
Results : No significant differences were found among the three groups of examiners in esthetic rating of nasal tip deviation,
alar base asymmetry and nasolabial angle pictures which had 10 to 21 degrees difference from reference pictures.
Conclusion : There is no difference in esthetic perception of nasolabial appearance among the young adult patients with CLP,
young adult laypersons, and healthcare professionals. Nasal tip deviation might be considered as the main factor in assess-
ment of frontal nasolabial appearance of UCLP patients.
Keywords : Cleft lip, Cleft palate, Esthetics, Nasolabial appearance
