Presurgical nasoalveolar molding: an advantageous adjunctive neonatal therapy for cleft lip and palate defects in 2 clinical cases

Abstract

The most common congenital craniofacial anomalies are labial-alveolo-palatal clefts. Infants with these deformities may have problems and limitations with breathing, feeding, speaking, hearing, as well as psychological problems. The treatment protocol for these patients is carried out using an interdisciplinary approach. Thus, in addition to surgical reconstruction, presurgical neonatal orthopedics have shown considerable advantages in the treatment of such malformations. Recently, presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) has been introduced to prevent nasal deformities, and to obtain a satisfactory surgical result and good psychological reintegration. This article describes, through 2 clinical cases, the technique of preparation of PNAMs, their surgical and clinical advantages, as well as the role of a multidisciplinary approach in effectively managing disorders related to labio-alveolo-palatal clefts.

Keywords

• presurgical nasolabial conformers
• maxillofacial prosthodontics
• presurgical orthopedics
• unilateral cleft lip and palate
• slot width
• multidisciplinary approach