Early orthodontic treatment in comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate

Objective: to assess the efficacy of early preoperative orthodontic treatment in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate using a palatal obturator in order to improve the spatial ratio between the intermaxillary bone and fragments of the maxilla as a preliminary stage in the comprehensive treatment. Materials and methods. The study included 38 patients with bilateral cleft of the upper lip, alveolar process, and hard and soft palate that underwent treatment in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery for Children and Adolescents of the National Medical Centre ‘Shifobakhsh’ in 2016-2017. In the study sample, 55% of patients were male and 45% were female. Patient age varied between 0 and 6 years. Results. Twenty-three patients (60.5%) underwent early preoperative orthodontic treatment for congenital bilateral cleft of the upper lip, alveolar process, and hard and soft palate (Group 1). Of them, 6 children had complex abnormaliyies and deformities of the upper lip, alveolar process, hard and soft palate, and severe protrusion of the intermaxillary bone...