Effect of Congenital Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment on Bacterial Colonization in Children

Purpose : To determine the effect of Inherited Cleft Lip and Palate Management on microbial migration in forked lip and palate (CLP) children. Material and methods: Fifteen forked lip and palate children and fifteen standard children (the control group), aged 3 months to 36 months were selected from the out clinic of Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University for Girls. Dribble samples were collected after the breakfast by inserting sterile cotton gauze in the entry from the jaws before and after construction of obturator. Results: The highest (mean±SD) value of log bacterial count (CFU/μl) was found in the cleft patients pre-operatively (5.64±1.06), while post-operatively there was a significant reduction in value (0.60±0.06) (P