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Pediatric Cleft and Craniofacial Center
Nasal Alveolar Molding
Prior to surgery to repair a cleft lip, some patients will require orthodontic treatment in order to guide the growth of the mouth in the right direction, eventually aiding in the correction process. This technique is called nasal alveolar molding, and is usually started during the first two weeks of a baby's life and can last up to six months.
To
begin this treatment, our pediatric dentist, Dr.
Mary Hauk, inserts a custom-fitted denture (molding plate)
into the baby's mouth. Every week, careful adjustments to this
molding plate gradually reshape the roof of the mouth and gum
lines. The plate causes the bones of the upper jaw to grow
toward
each other rather than to grow farther apart. It also provides
a barrier between the mouth and nose, which are open to each
other
in babies with cleft lip and palate. This can make it significantly
easier for the baby to eat.
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Once the gum line is in closer approximation, a nasal extension is added that raises up from the forward edge of the molding plate and lifts the nose and nasal cartilages into place. This technique is especially important for children with bilateral clefts of the lip and palate. Effective application of this technique optimizes the initial surgical results and may even minimize the need for later “touch up” surgery.
Dr. Girotto and Dr. Hauk are two of the few providers in the upstate New York region uniquely trained in this new technique. Nasoalveolar molding is a non-surgical, passive method of bringing the gum and lip together by re-directing the forces of natural growth. It is non-painful, and relatively easy to use. This technique is becoming the "gold standard" for cleft lip repair, and we are proud to be able to bring this technique to the families served by the Golisano Children’s Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies Center.