What do systematic reviews say?

Non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) status and its oral microbiota (exposure/grouping) vs Children and adolescents aged 0-18 years without CLP (controls)

A meta-analysis found no significant difference in mean Lactobacillus spp. levels between children with and without CLP, with high heterogeneity; the evidence is ungraded.

• Characterization of the oral microbiota and the relationship of the oral microbiota with the dental and periodontal… 2024 All outcomes

  Multiple countries; pediatric cleft/craniofacial care; saliva, dental plaque, subgingival plaque and nasal/oropharyngeal samples
  For the outcome of the presence of Lactobacillus spp., there were no significant differences between patients with CLP and healthy patients, and the diversity of the studies led to high heterogeneity; however, the p…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)

No significant difference in Lactobacillus spp. presence was reported; GRADE was not reported.

• Characterization of the oral microbiota and the relationship of the oral microbiota with the dental and periodontal… 2024 All outcomes
  MD 1.40 [1.33, 1.47]
  2 studies · 152 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Characterization of the oral microbiota and the relationship of the oral microbiota with the dental and periodontal… 2024 All outcomes

  Narrative synthesis: significantly higher in CLP vs controls (Ahluwalia, Lucas, Hassani, Cheng, Sundell)
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported