The primary objective of the present study was to use the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index to assess the outcome of the final phase of treatment in cleft lip and palate patients with orthodontic treatment alone and with orthognathic surgery. A secondary objective was to determine the improvement in the occlusion of the two treatment alternatives. The study sample consisted of 27 patients who received orthodontic treatment alone and 7 patients who received orthodontic treatment combined with orthognathic surgery were evaluated. The results showed that the orthognathic surgery group had greater PAR scores pre-treatment than did the orthodontic treatment alone group. Post-treatment and improvement of PAR scores were similar for both groups. Two subjects in orthodontic treatment alone group had excellent improvement whereas other cases presented less but still desired improvement. For the orthognathic surgery group, all cases demonstrated great improvement in malocclusion.

Keywords: PAR score, Orthodontic treatment, Cleft lip and palate patients