[Orthodontic treatment in multidisciplinary sequential treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate]

Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital maxillofacial defect. The modern treatment of cleft lip and palate is a sequential treatment with multidisciplinary collaboration, which can restore the maxillofacial morphology and function, and rebuild the psychosocial adaptation of the patients. Orthodontic treatment is almost throughout whole process of the sequential treatment. Due to the professional attention to maxillofacial growth and development, orthodontists have become one of the most crucial members during the multidisciplinary treatment of cleft lip and palate. Orthodontists are required in the different stages of maxillofacial growth and development to provide suggestions and necessary treatment. By orthodontic treatment, it can not only solve the problem of malocclusion and promote the maxillofacial growth and development, but also create a favourable condition for other therapies of sequential treatment, such as cleft lip and palate repair, bone grafting, prosthodontics, and even mental health. In order to improve the therapeutic effect of comprehensive treatment and to alleviate the burden of patients, orthodontists should learn more about the treatment of cleft lip and palate. This article mainly introduced the craniofacial deformities of cleft lip and palate and the progress of orthodontic treatment in the multidisciplinary treatment of cleft patients.