A Case of Bilateral Cleft of the Lip Alveolus and Palate treated with Presurgical Infant Orthopaedics using Clear Aligners

Abstract

A case report on presurgical infant orthopaedic management of a 1-day-old male patient with a bilateral cleft of the lip and palate, widely separated lip segments, rotated premaxilla, significantly increased alar base width, flattened nasal tip and a severely deficient columella using clear aligners.
Treatment objectives were to reduce the size of the cleft defect, lengthen the columella, improve nasolabial aesthetics and improve the outcome of surgical repair.
After a thorough patient assessment, presurgical infant orthopaedic treatment using the NAM aligner system incorporating
nasal hooks and lip taping was planned. The treatment was carried out over a period of 12 weeks, with nasal moulding initiated after six weeks of aligners therapy using a nasal hook in conjunction with the NAM aligner.
After 12 weeks of presurgical infant orthopaedic treatment, the size of the cleft defect was significantly reduced, nasolabial aesthetics was improved and a significant increase in the columella length was achieved