Pin and screw retained palatal prostheses in cleft palate patients

This article reviews the rationale and technical procedures for pin and screw retained palatal prostheses. These prostheses provide a useful treatment modality for cleft palate patients requiring two stage palatal repair, obturation for a large fistula, or single stage repair requiring palatal expansion in the presence of an unerupted primary dentition. Additionally, dental arch alignment can be achieved through the incorporation of an expansion screw device in the prosthesis. Post insertion problems of air and fluid leakage around the prosthesis, inflammation of the tissue underneath the prosthesis and possible damage to unerupted teeth have been observed, but are rare occurrences in properly selected cases.