Effect of Prenatal Intervention on Dental Caries and Risk Factors in Children with Unilateral Cleft Lip and/or Palate in Medellín, Colombia: A Nonrandomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cleft lip and palate prenatal diagnosis has increased, seemingly allowing better preparation of the mother regarding psychosocial aspects, feeding, growth, and development. The purpose of the study was to compare the proportion of early childhood caries (ECC) using the ICDAS visual criteria and caries risk assessment by CAMBRA® in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) diagnosed prenatally and postnatally, treated with nasoalveolar molding (NAM) and whose mothers received a personalized motivational intervention approach (PMIA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nonrandomized controlled experimental study was conducted on children with UCL/P treated with NAM and diagnosed prenatally and postnatally. Both groups had PMIA. Dental caries was assessed using the ICDAS criteria during the first 3 years of life, and caries risk was assessed using the CAMBRA® system in the third year of life. Results: A higher proportion of cavitated caries lesions was observed in the prenatal group at 2 years of age. At 3 years old, a higher proportion of noncavitated caries lesions was observed in the postnatal group according to the ICDAS criteria, without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Both groups presented early childhood caries despite receiving a personalized motivational intervention approach. There were no significant differences in the CAMBRA® risk index between the groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the interventions carried out, both groups showed the presence of ECC. This highlights a significant public health issue that demands broader and more systematic intervention by institutions, with a particular emphasis on educational programs on oral health with rigorous follow-up. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Cerón-Zapata AM, Castro-Montoya BA, Valdivieso-Gaviria P. Effect of Prenatal Intervention on Dental Caries and Risk Factors in Children with Unilateral Cleft Lip and/or Palate in Medellín, Colombia: A Nonrandomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2026;19(8):972-979.