Nasoalveolar molding with active columellar lengthening in severe bilateral cleft lip/palate: a clinical report

Recent Advances in Nasoalveolar Molding Therapy Using 3D Technology

Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) is an adjunctive treatment modality designed to reorient misaligned tissue structures and nasal cartilage in cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) patients. Recent advances in NAM therapy focus on modifications to the intraoral molding plate or nasal stent intended to improve treatment outcomes, ease of use, compliance, and cost-effectiveness. Notably, 3D technological advancements have been employed to design NAM devices more efficiently and create objective, standardized means of measuring progressive morphological changes during therapy. These advances are designed to incorporate 3D technology in the treatment of cleft lip and/or palate to render it more precise, accurate, and time-efficient.

Modified Activation Technique for Nasal Stent of Nasoalveolar Molding Appliance for Columellar Lengthening in Bilateral Cleft Lip/Palate

Bilateral cleft lip/cleft palate is associated with nasal deformities typified by a short columella. The presurgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM) therapy approach includes reduction of the size of the intraoral alveolar cleft as well as positioning of the surrounding deformed soft tissues and cartilages. In a bilateral cleft patient, NAM, along with columellar elongation, eliminates the need for columellar lengthening surgery. Thus the frequent surgical intervention to achieve the desired esthetic results can be avoided. This article proposes a modified activation technique of the nasal stent for a NAM appliance for columellar lengthening in bilateral cleft lip/palate patients. The design highlights relining of the columellar portion of the nasal stent and the wire-bending of the nasal stent to achieve desirable results within the limited span of plasticity of the nasal cartilages. With this technique the vertical taping of the premaxilla to the oral plate can be avoided.