Single-visit Feeding Obturator Fabrication in Infants with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Case Series and Narrative Review of Literature

Abstract

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the most common craniofacial anomaly affecting newborns. In the early years of life to survive baby requires nutrition from the mother. Lip seal of infant is affected because of cleft palate and thereby feeding is greatly compromised. As there is communication between nasal cavity and oral cavity there are more chances of aspiration of milk into the lungs. The main role of pedodontist is to fabricate a palatal obturator which facilitates feeding. In this article we have discussed fabrication of feeding obturator in single visit in infants with cleft palate. How to cite this article Tirupathi SP, Ragulakollu R, Reddy V. Single-visit Feeding Obturator Fabrication in Infants with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Case Series and Narrative Review of Literature. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(2):186–191.

Pre-surgical Nasal Molding of a Two-Day-Old Neonate With Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Using Passive Nasoalveolar Molding Technique: A Case Report

“…Difficulties in early treatment of the NAM include parental cooperation, systemic health of the patient, repeated airway infections, and local inflammatory causes [ 10 ]. Therefore, under favorable conditions, nasal molding can be started within a week of birth.…”

“…Nasal and alveolar molding techniques have been considered to positively affect lip, nasal, and alveolar surgical repairs by reducing muscle tension and successfully decreasing defects in short-term evaluation [9]. In addition to the approximation of the segments' early intervention of the cleft defect, the molding plate has many advantages, including nutritional gain, preventing nasal regurgitation, the establishment of normal sucking movement, and restoring the tongue to a downward position, thereby preventing its protrusion into the defect [10]. Although feeding plates have been delivered within a few hours of birth up to the initial weeks of the neonatal period, there are no reports of early nasal molding starting within a week of birth [11,12].…”

Oral management of children/adolescents with ectrodactyly‐ectodermal dysplasia‐clefting (EEC) syndrome: A scoping review

“…16,18,22 Feeding obturators can improve the ability of EEC infants to attain suction and to feed adequately; these appliances are necessary for the patient to have a sustained weight gain before the surgery to correct the cleft lip and/or palate. 27 Likewise, the purposes of placing a partial or total removable prosthetic denture are to improve the masticatory function and esthetic appearance and to prevent malocclusions, atypical lip/tongue habits, psychological and social inferiority complex, inadequate food selection, speech or language alterations, and atrophy of the alveolar bone. 13 Surgical closure and reconstruction of cleft lip are indicated at around 10 weeks of age, and the closure of cleft palate or palatoplasty is accomplished between 12 and 24 months of age in order to facilitate the acquisition of a normal speech.…”

Rehabilitation Using Hybrid Technique for Feeding Plate Fabrication in a 3-Month-Old Infant with Cleft Palate Defect Utilising Digital and Conventional Method

“…The obturator further prevents food from entering the nasopharynx, lowering the risk of otitis media and nasopharyngeal infections. [ 4 5 ]…”