Abstract
Objectives: To conduct a comprehensive retrospective audit of patients with orofacial clefts (OFC) treated at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry (FoD) from 2014 to 2024, establishing a digital database to analyse the distribution of demographics, cleft phenotypes, syndromes, dental features, and treatment modalities.
Methods: Sixty-nine patients were identified through systematic digital searches of dental and orthodontic records. Key demographic, clinical, and treatment data were entered into a standardised database and analysed with descriptive statistics.
Results: The cohort included 63.8% NZ European/Pkeh and 15.9% Māori patients, with 53.6% being male. Non-syndromic clefts accounted for 68.1%, predominantly cleft lip and palate, while 31.9% had syndromic diagnoses, mostly cleft palate. Most patients (68.1%) lived within 25 km of the FoD, though 14.5% travelled over 100 km for care. Preventive dental care (65.2%) and treatment under general anaesthesia (53.6%) were common. 81.2% of patients received orthodontic care at the FoD, and all patients underwent comprehensive record collection before orthodontic treatment. Secondary alveolar bone grafting was performed in 17 patients (24.6%), and orthognathic surgery in 5.8%, with average ages at surgery aligning with national guidelines.
Conclusion: This audit established the first comprehensive treatment database of OFC patients at the FoD, demonstrating alignment with national protocols and guidelines, while highlighting the need for improved record standardisation and enhancing interdisciplinary coordination to support effective benchmarking across New Zealand cleft units.