Successful interdisciplinary retreatment after initial treatment failure in a cleft lip adolescent

Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is the most common craniofacial birth defect. Patients with CL/P typically exhibit severe malocclusions in the transverse, vertical, and sagittal directions, and often have poor oral hygiene. Due to the complex nature of the disease, the dental treatment for CL/P patients presents considerable challenges, sometimes resulting in interrupted treatments and subsequent treatment failures.

Here, we present an interdisciplinary retreatment for an adolescent with unilateral complete cleft lip (UCCL), who initially received an orthodontic treatment elsewhere but faced issues such as poor oral hygiene, deep overbite of anterior teeth, significant discrepancies in the width of posterior teeth, and persistent spaces resulting from the alveolar cleft. Throughout the retreatment, we employed tooth remineralization accompanied by strict oral hygiene instructions, various skilled orthodontic techniques, surgical interventions, and aesthetic prosthodontic work. The adolescent showed dramatic improvements in facial and dental aesthetics, as well as in dental occlusion and function after treatment.

In summary, this case report emphasizes the critical role of effective oral hygiene management and interdisciplinary teamwork among dental subspecialties in the treatment of CL/P patients.