The Early Years: Presurgical Infant Orthopedics to Palate Surgery

This lecture, the first of a 3-part series covering the management of patients with cleft lip and palate from birth to adulthood, will present a comprehensive treatment timeline as well as the basics of the cleft deformity. The concept and history of presurgical infant orthopedics will be reviewed and the treatment modality of Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) will be introduced. This lecture will finish with a discussion of the primary palate surgery, the last key step conducted in infancy for the rehabilitation of patients with cleft lip and palate.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the treatment time-line from birth to adulthood for patients with cleft lip and palate
Describe the anatomical deformities of both unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate
Define Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) and explain the treatment goals of NAM

The Middle Years: Post-Palate Surgery to Alveolar Bone Grafting

This lecture is the second of a 3-part series covering the management of patients with cleft lip and palate. This segment begins in the primary dentition and continues through the early mixed dentition to the completion of the secondary alveolar bone graft. Issues relating to facial growth and development will be reviewed as well as patterns of dental development and tooth eruption. Unique aspects of dental and oral diseases in children with clefts will be highlighted. The presentation will provide detailed insights into orthodontic and surgical management during these years, with particular attention to management parameters for secondary alveolar bone grafting.

Learning Objectives:

Describe typical patterns of facial growth and development and the causative factors for these patterns in children with cleft lip and palate
Describe common dental disease patterns and dental formative and eruptive difficulties in children with cleft lip and palate
Describe the goals of alveolar bone grafting, the sequence of care for this procedure and critical issues which impact outcomes

Bryan J. Williams DDS, MSD, MEd

Appearances