Maxillary orthopedics

Although there may never be uniformity of opinion on the use of maxillary orthopedic appliances or definitive data supporting their universal use in treatment regimens, they are an integral part of cleft lip and palate care. Many appliances, both active and passive, are used by teams of highly skilled specialists to normalize the congenital alveolar defect. The major difficulty in reaching a consensus among care providers is due to maxillary orthopedics being but one interventional aspect of a sequence of events in the habilitation effort. Cleft care begins in infancy and extends throughout the developmental years. The period of assessment of treatment regimens and outcomes extends almost over a researcher's lifetime. By placing the cleft structures in a more favorable oral configuration in concert with the oral environment, the greatest growth potential can be achieved.