The Perception of Dental Students Regarding Cleft Lip and Palate: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) are congenital malformations caused by failures in embryonic development between the fourth and eighth weeks of gestation. The most commonly used CLP classification in Brazil is Spina's (1972), which uses the incisive foramen as a reference point and can affect various regions of the oral cavity, such as the lip (pre-incisive foramen), the palate (post-incisive foramen), or both (trans-incisive foramen). This study aimed to evaluate the perception of students in the final semesters of the Dentistry course at Uninassau Mossoró University regarding the care of patients with CLP. The research involved 130 students using a questionnaire on etiology, pathology, dental experience, and safety in care. The results showed that although students had adequate knowledge of the definition and etiology of CLP, there was insecurity regarding clinical care. The majority of participants (92.3%) had no practical experience with patients with CLP, and 79.2% required faculty supervision to provide adequate care. Furthermore, 14.6% preferred to refer patients to specialized professionals. The students acknowledged the importance of the dentist in general dental treatment and in providing guidance on preventive care, such as oral hygiene. The study suggests that educational institutions implement training programs and extension courses to improve the preparation of future professionals in managing patients with CLP. Future studies may evaluate the perception of students from other institutions, expanding the understanding of professional preparedness regarding this condition.

Keywords: Cleft palate; Cleft lip; Perception; Dental Students.