Objective: To propose the use of a post-surgical alveolar molder in patients under 4 years of age who have undergone cheiloplasty, aiming for better aesthetic and functional outcomes, using nasal morphometric and photogrammetric studies as measurement references.Materials and methods: This is a before-and-after pilot study conducted at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service and the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service of Dr.Ignacio Morones Prieto Central Hospital. Patients included in the study were those diagnosed with Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP), presenting clinical data of nasal asymmetry, and aged between 0 and 4 years. An alveolar molder was fabricated using orthodontic wire and self-polymerizing acrylic/monomer according to the size and shape of the patient's nose. The device consists of a wire device with double hooks and a double "V" that will be placed in the frontal region. The evaluation of nasal shape and symmetry was carried out through a photogrammetric study and clinical measurement of nasal height and width.
Results:The study included 18 patients, aged between 4 and 39 months, of which 10 presented left-sided clefts, 5 right-sided, and 3 bilateral. The study demonstrated that the use of an alveolar molder in patients with cleft lip and palate resulted in significant improvements in nasal symmetry and morphology, evidenced by increases in vertical and angular dimensions; specifically, the PnC-SarSal distance increased from 18.61 ± 1.78 mm to 20.50 ± 1.64 mm and the height of the right nasal fossa from 6.97 ± 1.49 mm to 8.22 ± 1.68 mm, with notable angular improvements in the Nlr-Midline and Nll-Midline distances.
Conclusions:The alveolar molder proposed in this study proved to be a useful tool for improving nasal symmetry and morphology in these types of patients.