Conservative orthodontic management of an adult cleft lip and palate patient

Abstract

Clefts of the upper lip and palate are the most common congenital deformities affecting the orofacial complex in humans and are associated with many problems, including cosmetic deformities, dental abnormalities, and difficulties in speech and swallowing. As the public awareness of availability of treatment for this anomaly is minimal, the age of the patients reaching for primary treatment varies from few days to late forties. Although the aim and aspiration is to provide holistic multidisciplinary care, the priority is getting treatment for all cleft patients. This paper reports successful orthodontic management of an adult female with unilateral cleft lip and palate (CL/P) who denied surgery for her alveolar defect, so conventional orthodontic treatment was carried out with the initial expansion of maxillary arch followed by alignment of teeth to achieve stable occlusion. The final defect was covered with an obturator which also replaced the missing tooth.