Objective: A critical appraisal of cleft care in the United Kingdom.
Design: Retrospective comparative study.
Setting: All National Health Service cleft centers in the United Kingdom.
Patients/participants: Children born with unilateral complete clefts of the lip and palate between April 1, 1982, and March 31, 1984 (12-year-olds), and April 1, 1989, and March 31, 1991 (5-year-olds). Newly appointed and senior cleft clinicians.
Main outcome measures: Skeletal pattern, dental arch relationship, success of alveolar bone grafting, dental health, facial appearance, oral health status, patient/parent satisfaction.
Conclusions: This paper highlights the poor outcomes for the fragmented cleft care in the United Kingdom, compared with European centers. There is an urgent need for a review of structure, organization, and training.