Orthognathic surgery in the rehabilitation of a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patient

Omar Gabriel da SILVA FILHO, Flávio Mauro FERRARI JÚNIOR, Roberta Martinelli CARVALHO, Reinaldo MAZZOTTINI

Cleft lip and palate result from the lack of fusion among the maxillary and palatal processes and represent a challenge for the social integration of the patient. Patients with a cleft lip show the cleft marks on their faces and patients with a cleft palate express its consequences in their speech. The rehabilitation process of a cleft patient is complex. Treatment begins early with the primary surgeries of the lip and palate (cheiloplasty and palatoplasty, respectively). In cleft lip and palate patients, these surgeries, however, also have a negative influence on the midface growth. In this article we describe an orthodontic/surgical treatment of a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate patient and remind that this is just one of the steps required for the cleft patient’s total rehabilitation.

Keywords: Cleft lip and palate. Orthodontic treatment. Orthognathic surgery.

Sunday, December 29, 2024 00:07