Rehabilitation of an Orofacial Cleft through Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding with a 1-year Follow-up

AIM: To highlight the effectiveness of Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding (PNAM) technique and the appliance used prior to the surgical reconstruction of cleft lip and palate in newborns. BACKGROUND: In underdeveloped and developing countries, babies born with oral clefts, are generally anemic with low birth weight and may be unfit for surgery immediately. Feeding these babies is also difficult as the air leaks through the cleft and they cannot create the suction needed for suckling. CASE DESCRIPTION: Two newborn babies, presented with unilateral midfacial clefts involving the lip, alveolus and palate. CONCLUSION: The PNAM appliance enabled breast Feeding while lessening the soft tissue and cartilaginous deformity and allowing surgical soft tissue repair with minor scar formations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: PNAM can reduce the surgical burden and reduce the number of surgical revisions when initiated early. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Ferreira AN, Eswaramurthy P, Aras MA, et al. Rehabilitation of an Orofacial Cleft through Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding with a 1-year follow-up. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(1):162-165.