Cuidados orais em pacientes fissurados: revisão da literatura

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cleft lip and palate are the most common serial congenital anomalies that affect the orofacial region. It may occur alone or together in various combinations and/or together with other congenital deformities, particularly congenital heart defects. The patient with orofacial cleft deformity needs to be treated at the right time and age to achieve functional and aesthetic well-being. OBJECTIVES: To identify in the literature what has been produced in terms of knowledge regarding oral care for patients with cleft lip and palate. METHODOLOGY: This is a bibliographic, exploratory study carried out through a literature review. The following virtual health databases were used, specifically the Virtual Health Library (VHL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Information System (LILACS), National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), from 2010 to 2022. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the presence of cleft lip and/or palate negatively affects oral hygiene. This lack of adequate hygiene is identified as one of the risk factors for the high prevalence of caries in adolescent patients with clefts, in addition to periodontal diseases. It is important that the entire population, especially parents and guardians of children and adolescents with cleft lip and palate, are oriented on the importance of oral hygiene, so that diseases such as caries are avoided. Therefore, the adequacy of oral health services is important, so that patients have access to comprehensive care, in addition to contributing to the prevention of the emergence of oral diseases, thus having a better quality of life. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: It was concluded that it is important to develop a clinical protocol evidencing and standardizing the dental performance, the main care and techniques used, in order to make the procedure safer and more comfortable, restoring self-esteem and reducing problems related to clefts.