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The Effect of DynaCleft® on Cleft Width in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients
Insights
DynaCleft® significantly reduced alveolar cleft width in infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate compared to those using only an obturator. This presurgical orthopedic device offers a viable treatment option.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial surgery
- Pediatric dentistry
- Orthodontics
Background:
- Infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate often require presurgical orthopedic intervention.
- Oral obturators are commonly used, but their efficacy in reducing cleft width can be limited.
- DynaCleft® is a device designed to aid in presurgical orthopedic management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of DynaCleft® combined with an oral obturator for presurgical infant orthopedic treatment.
- To compare the reduction in alveolar cleft width between infants using DynaCleft® and those using only an obturator.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 25 infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate.
- Two groups were analyzed: Group Alpha (DynaCleft® + obturator) and Group Beta (obturator only).
- Maxillary impression casts were taken initially and before lip repair; alveolar cleft width was measured using a digital caliper.
Main Results:
- Group Alpha (n=8) showed an average cleft width reduction from 8.13 mm to 4.59 mm.
- Group Beta (n=17) showed an average cleft width reduction from 8.09 mm to 6.92 mm.
- The reduction in cleft width was statistically significant between the two groups (P = .03).
Conclusions:
- DynaCleft® significantly decreased alveolar cleft width compared to using an obturator alone.
- DynaCleft® is a beneficial presurgical orthopedic tool for infants with cleft lip and palate.
- Consider DynaCleft® for patients lacking access to other infant maxillary orthopedic treatments.
Objective:
The specific aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to assess the efficacy of DynaCleft® as a method of presurgical orthopedics with infants with a unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate who used an oral obturator.
Study Design:
Data was collected from 25 infants all of comparable age diagnosed with a unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. Eight patients used DynaCleft ® and an obturator (Group Alpha) and seventeen patients only had an obturator (Group Beta). Maxillary impression casts were obtained from each patient at the initial clinic visit and at the time of cleft lip repair. Differences in alveolar cleft width were compared between the two groups. Casts were measured twice by one observer using a digital caliper.
Results:
Group Alpha began treatment on an average age of 24.25 days and Group Beta an average of 15.35 days of age. The average cleft width of Group Alpha was 8.13 mm and after treatment it was 4.59 mm. The average cleft width of Group Beta was 8.09 mm and 6.92 mm after treatment. Results of paired t-tests and two-sample t-test showed that cleft width changes between the two groups were significant (P = .03).
Conclusions:
DynaCleft ® significantly decreased the size of the alveolar cleft width compared to infants who did not use it. Providers should consider using DynaCleft® for patients who may not have access to infant maxillary orthopedics.
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