Case report: surgeon and orthodontist work together from patient's birth

This case report presents one of the initial participants of a new treatment protocol started in 1965 for children born with complete clefts of the lip, alveolus, and palate at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, USA. The surgeon and orthodontist worked together and in tandem from the time of the patient's birth. The protocol involves lip and palate closure, along with the placement of a passive maxillary prosthesis and minimal primary osteoplasty to the alveolus to help stabilize the maxillary segments. This case is noteworthy in that the patient had a number of congenitally missing teeth, and treatment required moving a tooth into and through an area originally cleft. The patient is now 40 years of age. Intra- and extraoral photographs, cephalometric radiographs, occlusal dental radiographs, and dental casts through the treatment stages are presented.