Treatment FAQ

as a dental hygienist how would you alter treatment for a patient with cleft palate

by Dr. Rocio Jones Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Why choose an orthodontist for cleft palate surgery?

Orthodontists work closely with other members of the cleft team such as surgeons, speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists and attend the MDT meetings to ensure that families are well prepared for the surgery and children receive the best pre and post-operative care to get the maximum benefit from the surgery.

What is the treatment for cleft lip and palate?

Dental and orthodontic treatment for cleft Children born with a cleft lip and/or palate may develop dental problems and require regular appointments with an orthodontist (a dentist who specialises in the correction of teeth irregularities).

What are the morphological alterations caused by the cleft palate?

The morphological alterations caused by the cleft are related to its severity and classification. A newborn with a unilateral CLP will present extraorally with the nasal alar cartilage on the side of the cleft displaced and flattened, and the tip of the nose deviated toward to the non-cleft side ( Fig. 1A ).

Why interprofessional collaborative care for cleft lip and palate?

This interprofessional collaborative care model is a necessity because children with cleft lip and/or palate will often present with numerous health challenges, sometimes due to other components of a larger syndrome or condition.

What is the usual treatment for cleft palate?

Children with a cleft lip or palate will need several treatments and assessments as they grow up. A cleft is usually treated with surgery. Other treatments, such as speech therapy and dental care, may also be needed. Your child will be cared for by a specialist cleft team at an NHS cleft centre.

How do you clean your mouth after cleft palate?

put away or kept out of your child's reach while the palate is healing. Please discuss with your surgeon the use of a pacifier after surgery. To clean your child's teeth and gums, use a gauze pad dipped in plain water or a small amount of mouthwash mixed with water. Wipe the front of teeth only.

How does cleft lip and palate affect dental treatment?

From a dentist's point of view, children with a cleft often have narrow crowded arches, and accessing the mouth and teeth can be difficult practically. The shape or position of their teeth may also make them harder to clean effectively, so parents have to be extra careful to establish good habits early on.

What measures can be taken to care for a child post surgery for cleft lip?

Give your child soft toys to play with and minimize risky activities until full recovery. Your kid might feel pain in the first few days following the procedure, and thus you will have to administer medications to manage the pain. During discharge day, you will be given medication such as Lortab or Oxycodone.

What is the appropriate feeding technique to use with an infant who has a cleft palate?

The following are some suggestions to help feed your baby with cleft palate: Observe your infant for a period of sucking, followed by a swallow and a brief period of breathing. Do not squeeze the bottle during the swallowing or breathing phase. Keep the bottle tilted so the nipple is always full of milk.

Which position is best after cleft palate surgery?

A child who has had a cleft lip repair should be positioned on their side or back to keep them from rubbing their face in the bed. A child with only a cleft palate repair may sleep on their stomach. It is important to keep the stitches clean and without crusting.

What is cleft palate in dentistry?

A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth), and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof of the mouth).

Can people with cleft palate get braces?

Yes, cleft palate can be successfully repaired through surgical treatment and subsequent orthodontic treatment. The timing depends upon the severity of the cleft palate; some children can be treated as infants, while others may need to wait until they are older.

What causes cleft lip palate?

Causes and Risk Factors Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.

When providing postoperative care for the child with a cleft palate the nurse should position the child in which of the following positions?

Prone. B: Postoperatively children with cleft palate should be placed on their abdomens to facilitate drainage.

Which nursing intervention is essential in the care of an infant with cleft lip and palate?

Cleft lip deformities can occur unilaterally, bilaterally or rarely, in the midline....Desired Outcomes.Nursing InterventionsRationaleFeed the infant slowly and burp frequently.Burping frequently during a feeding will reduce spitting up and prevent excessive swallowing of air.7 more rows•Mar 22, 2022

How do you prepare for cleft palate surgery?

Your child may have breast milk up to 4 hours and formula up to 6 hours before surgery. All other liquids, semi-liquids and solid foods MUST BE STOPPED 8 hours before surgery.Your child may have CLEAR LIQUIDS up to 2 hours before surgery. After that, they may have nothing else to drink.

What is the role of an oral health professional in a cleft lip and palate team?

Traditionally, the role of an oral health professional on an interdisciplinary cleft lip and palate team has been to address the preventive and restorative needs of the child — much as with any other patient. In recent years, however, the oral health professional’s role has evolved with the rise of early orthopedic treatment of the predentate infant.

What is a cleft lip and palate team?

As soon as a cleft lip or cleft palate is detected, the interdisciplinary cleft lip and palate team goes to work. The makeup of a cleft lip and palate team (sometimes referred to as a craniofacial team) differs depending on the institution, but typically consists of nursing, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, speech pathology, social work, audiology, orthodontics, oral surgery and pediatric dentistry professionals.

How common are C lefts?

C lefts of the lip and/or palate affect children of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, with an overall worldwide prevalence of approximately one in 700 live births. 1 In the United States, it is estimated that nearly one in 1000 babies is born with an orofacial cleft. 2 Interdisciplinary treatment is required, and this article will focus on developments in care, and the ever changing and expanding role of the dental provider. Clefts vary greatly in severity; one mild form, for example, is a submucous cleft, in which the soft palate is involved, but the oral tissues are intact. A submucous cleft may go undetected until toddler years, when abnormal speech may lead to a diagnosis. More severe clefts can involve the lip, hard palate, and, less frequently, facial structures. Clefts are classified as complete or incomplete, as well as unilateral or bilateral. Half of all orofacial clefts involve both the palate and lip, while clefts isolated to the palate are less common. 2 This condition can result from isolated genetic mutations, environmental factors or teratogen exposures, including alcohol and tobacco. They are also associated with a number of syndromes (Table 1). While genetics may play a role in the development of orofacial clefts, both syndromic and nonsyndromic, genetics are not the sole determinant.

Why is it important to have a dental provider?

If the cleft is part of a larger syndrome, it is also possible there may be issues with dexterity and the ability to brush effectively. 16,17 For these reasons, the role of the dental provider is vital for maintaining the function and integrity of the dentition as the child transitions from predentate to primary dentition — and eventually into young adulthood.

How to reduce alveolar cleft?

A chief goal of NAM is to decrease the size of the alveolar cleft as much as possible. Once the cleft is narrowed to 5 mm or less, the nasal stent can be added to the acrylic plate (Figure 9). A single nasal stent is used on the affected nostril for a child with a unilateral complete cleft, while two stents are used for a child with a bilateral complete cleft. The stent places pressure on the ala of the nose and to create a more natural convexity of both the alar rim and nasal dome. As these nasal cartilages are reshaped, a more symmetric appearance results and the tissues of the columella are straightened and lengthened, lessening the need for more invasive surgical techniques. 12 The results of successful NAM treatment include closing of the bony alveolar cleft to within 5 mm, bringing the lip segments into closer proximity, elongating the columella, achieving convexity of the nasal cartilage, reducing the width of the nasal base, and achieving maximum symmetry of the nostrils.

Can a submucous cleft go undetected?

A submucous cleft may go undetected until toddler years, when abnormal speech may lead to a diagnosis. More severe clefts can involve the lip, hard palate, and, less frequently, facial structures. Clefts are classified as complete or incomplete, as well as unilateral or bilateral.

Can a cleft palate prevent breastfeeding?

A complete cleft of the palate may prevent breastfeeding and complicate bottle feeding.

What is the treatment for cleft lip?

Dental and orthodontic treatment for cleft. Children born with a cleft lip and/or palate may develop dental problems and require regular appointments with an orthodontist (a dentist who specialises in the correction of teeth irregularities).

What is the procedure for a cleft lip?

Sometimes children born with a cleft lip will have a notch on their front gum (alveolar) and may require alveolar bone graft bone graft surgery (see ‘Cleft treatment pathway’). This surgery will involve the skills of orthodontists and cleft surgeons.

When do you get braces for a cleft lip?

Children born with a cleft lip and/or palate will receive orthodontic care within the ‘Cleft treatment pathway’ until they reach 21 years of age. When all of the adult teeth have come through or erupted (usually in the early teenage years), braces may be fitted in order to ensure that the teeth are straight. People born with a cleft lip and/or ...

What did Lizzie recall about braces?

Lizzie recalls how she needed to wear braces as a child and how the treatment progressed with bone grafts to improve growth of teeth. This opens in a new window. Lizzie recalls how she needed to wear braces as a child and how the treatment progressed with bone grafts to improve growth of teeth.

Can a person with a cleft lip and palate have orthodontics?

People born with a cleft lip and/or palate who didn’t have orthodontic treatment when they were young can still benefit from having orthodontic treatment as an adult: this treatment is provided by the regional cleft services in the U.K. (see ‘Adult cleft services’).

Does being born with a cleft palate affect dental health?

Ryerson explains that being born with a cleft palate can have a life-long impact on dental health and requires awareness from dental practitioners. Ryerson explains that being born with a cleft palate can have a life-long impact on dental health an from Dipex Charity on Vimeo. Play.

Is Karan a cleft lip?

Karan was born with a cleft lip and palate and was informed she would be able to receive orthodontic treatment as an adult within the NHS. For a long time I was still unhappy with the way I smiled, or I didn’t feel I could smile openly.

When can a child have cleft palate surgery?

A cleft palate is initially treated with surgery safely when the child is between 7 to 18 months old. This depends upon the individual child and his/her own situation. For example, if the child has other associated health problems, it is likely that the surgery will be delayed.

What is a cleft lip?

However, if the sections don’t meet the result is a cleft. If the separation occurs in the upper lip, the child is said to have a cleft lip.

Why is the palate important?

You can feel your own palate by running your tongue over the top of your mouth. Its purpose is to separate your nasal cavity from your mouth. The palate has an extremely important role during speech because when you talk it prevents air from blowing out of your nose instead of your mouth. The palate is also very important when eating; it prevents food and liquids from going up into the nose.

What Can Be Expected After The Surgery?

After the palate has been fixed children will immediately have an easier time swallowing food and liquids. However, in about one out of every five children that have the cleft palate repaired, a portion of the repair will split, causing a new hole to form between the nose and mouth. If small, this hole may result in only an occasional minor leakage of fluids into the nose. If large however, it can cause significant eating problems, and most importantly, can even affect how the child speaks. This hole is referred to as a “fistula,” and may need further surgery to correct.

What is the primary objective of multidisciplinary dental treatment of cleft lip and/or palate?

The principal objective of the multidisciplinary dental treatment of cleft lip and/or palate individuals is to provide facial and dental aesthetics, functional occlusion, improved oral health environment, and speech within a normal range. Furthermore, facial/dental rehabilitation is associated with the development of improved self-esteem and inclusion in to society. 7 Thus from the practitioner’s perspective, it is always essential to emphasize to the families that while the treatment process is lengthy and involved, interventions will be made at the ideal stages in order to provide the best outcome in the shortest amount of time. 2

What is the treatment for cleft lip?

The treatment for this condition is multidisciplinary and includes different specialties of Medicine and Dentistry during the entire growth phase of the patient. The American Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Association recommends that individuals with craniofacial anomalies, including cleft lip and/or palate, should be evaluated and treated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists representing different disciplines such as: pediatric medicine, plastic surgery, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, audiology, radiology/medical imaging, genetics/genetic counseling, neurology and neurosurgery, nursing, ophthalmology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, psychology, social work, and speech-language pathology. 6

What is craniofacial orthodontist?

The craniofacial orthodontist has a critical role during the care of individuals with cleft lip and/or palate. They are involved with these patients from birth to adulthood providing the following treatments: infant pre-surgical orthopedics, orthodontic preparation for the alveolar bone graft (ABG), early phase of orthodontic treatment after ABG, and comprehensive orthodontic treatment associated with or without orthognathic surgery. 7,8 The primary objective of this article is to provide the general dental practitioner an overview of the orthodontic management of individuals born with cleft lip and palate (CLP).

How does a maxillary expander work?

The maxillary expander promotes an expansion through widening the cleft. Therefore, there is a lateral positioning of the alveolar segments. 25,26 The maxillary expansion is considered completed once the posterior crossbite (s) are corrected and the maxillary arch is preferably over-expanded. 2 The plastic surgery department is subsequently notified in order to coordinate a pre-surgical assessment appointment and to enable preparation for the extraction of any deciduous and/or supernumerary (unerupted or erupted) teeth in the cleft area six to eight weeks prior the planned surgical procedure. In the CLP individuals the expansion is not followed by bone formation, as is seen with non-CLP individuals, due to the absence of a medial palatine suture. For this reason, the device must be maintained as a retainer until the ABG surgical date at which time the appliance is removed and a complete set of pre-surgical radiographs is acquired ( Fig. 6A ).

What is cleft lip?

Introduction#N#Cleft lip and/or palate is one of the most common congenital anomalies affecting the craniofacial structures. 1,2 These anomalies are considered a relevant public health issue by the World Health Organization3 due to its effects on facial aesthetics, function and psychosocial challenges for the child as well as for the social and financial burden for the family. 1 The incidence of cleft lip and palate is not uniform and varies according to different ethnicities. The global average is approximately one in every 700 newborns. 1,4 Increased rates have been reported for Native American and Asian populations at 1 in 500 births. European-derived populations present intermediate prevalence rates at 1 in 1000 and the lowest rates were reported for African populations at 1 in 2500 births. 4,5

What are the dental anomalies of a CLP?

Frequently observed in CLP individuals are dental anomalies (number, shape, position) and compensatory positioning of the teeth. 8,14,15,16 The agenesis of the maxillary lateral incisor, on the affected side, is the most frequent dental anomaly, followed by the presence of a supernumerary lateral incisor located distal to the cleft. 12,17,18 Regarding the compensatory positioning of the teeth, the central incisor adjacent to the cleft typically presents with distal crown angulation and mesio/distal rotation, while the lesser segment of the cleft arch presents with a Class II dental relation even in the presence of a skeletal Class III relation. Another recurrent compensatory characteristic in the permanent dentition of CLP individuals is excessive lingual tip of crowns of mandibular premolars and molars as the dentition of the mandibular arch attempts to adapt to the maxillary atresia ( Fig. 3 ).

What is unilateral clefting of the lip?

Clefting of the lip and/or alveolus can occur either unilaterally (one-side) or bilaterally (both sides). The morphological alterations caused by the cleft are related to its severity and classification. A newborn with a unilateral CLP will present extraorally with the nasal alar cartilage on the side of the cleft displaced and flattened, and the tip of the nose deviated toward to the non-cleft side ( Fig. 1A ). Intraorally there will be separation of the palatal shelves to various degrees, and the palatal segment on the side of the cleft is often tilted medially and superiorly. There is also a direct communication between the oral and nasal cavities on the affected side of the palate. On the other hand, a newborn with bilateral CLP may present with a symmetrical or asymmetrical defect. In a child with complete bilateral CLP, the pre-maxilla is positioned anteriorly and is detached from maxilla10 ( Fig. 1B ). The median portion of the lip is isolated in the midline and remains attached to the premaxilla and to the columella. The premaxilla typically protrudes considerably forward of the facial profile and the nasal chambers are in direct communication with oral cavity. Intraorally, the palatal processes are divided, and while the nasal septum remains attached to base of skull, it is mobile where it supports the premaxilla and the columella.​

What does MA mean in prosthodontics?

MA: involved in the study conception and design, material preparation, prosthodontic treatment of patient, and revised the manuscript; NA: involved in material preparation and wrote the first draft of the manuscript; AH: involved in prosthodontic treatment of patient; GS: involved in the study conception and design, material preparation, and surgical treatment of patient.

Why use light retention?

Also, the use of light retention prevents the application of off‐axial loads to the implants. Moreover, the flexible and compressible retainers distribute the lateral loads between the implants and the soft tissue. When a single elastic retainer is compressed following the movements of the denture, the other retainers are also involved and the elastic parts are compressed. Thus, the movements of the overdenture are balanced and the loads are transferred to all implants as well as the soft tissue. Furthermore, the use of light retention allows easier retrieval for enhanced cleaning and maintenance of the overdenture. More rigid denture retainers transfer all or a large portion of the loads directly to the supporting implants and can apply off‐axial forces to the implants.7

Can dental implants be used for CLP?

Dental implants can result in acceptable esthetics and improved retention, stability, and function of prosthetic restorations when used for dental rehabilitation of CLP patients. However, the implant survival rate in patients with cleft palate is lower than that in noncleft individuals.

Can a fixed partial denture be used with implants?

Since the bone segments were mobile in our patient, treatment with fixed partial denture would increase the load applied to implants due to splinting of components. Overdenture seemed to be the best choice for our patient since it did not require splinting of components and would allow their movement. The patient could remove the denture at night. Also, the oral hygiene could be more easily practiced and the obturator would obstruct the oronasal fistula. Moreover, due to the large volume of the lost hard and soft tissue, fixed partial denture cannot yield ideal esthetic results in many cases. On the other hand, implant‐supported overdenture can provide favorable support for the lips due to the presence of flanges and yield more favorable results. Also, it can obstruct the cleft area and improve the speech as such.

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