• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2014

Cleft lip and palate(CLP) is one of the most common craniofacial deformities that requires systemic management involving a multidisciplinary team approach. Although there has been great improvement in the field of cleft surgery, surgical approach alone cannot resolve the various problems in treating cleft lip and palate. Hence the need for presurgical treatment was appreciated and especially, the concept of presurgical nasoalveolar molding was applied to treat unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate patients. Presurgical nasoalveolar molding(PNAM) of unilateral cleft mainly aims to recover nasal symmetry while the objectives of pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding in the bilateral cleft are to elongate the columella, to erect the tip of nose, and to reposition the forward displaced premaxillary region. This report covers the case of fraternal twins diagnosed with bilateral cleft. Retraction of the premaxillary region and nasoalveolar molding were conducted for 70 days until cheiloplasty, using elastic bands and nasoalveolar molding appliances. After cheiloplasty, there had been improvements in the length of columella and the position of forward-displaced premaxilla for both patients compared to their initial states. The esthetics was also satisfactory for both the surgery and the parents. In order to maximize the efficacy of the appliance, three components should be in balance; patients' adaptation to the appliance, parents' cooperation and proper selection and careful adjustment of the appliance by the dentist.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.29 no.6 s.77
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• pp.649-661
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• 1999

The goals of this study were 1) to present pre-surgical naso-alveolar molding (PNAM) appliance for bilateral cleft lip and palate treatment and 2) to evaluate the effects of the PNAM appliance on the alveolar molding of the premaxilla and the lateral segments. Subjects consisted of 8 bilateral cleft lip and palate infants (7 males and 1 female, mean age at first visit = 61.6 days after birth) who were treated with PNAM appliances in Department of Orthodontics, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Average alveolar cleft gap between the premaxilla and the lateral segment was $8.09{\pm}5.03mm$ and average duration of alveolar molding treatment was $8.8{\pm}3.1$ weeks. These patients' models were obtained at initial visit (T0) and after alveolar molding (T1). 20 linear and 14 angular variables were measured by using photometry and digital caliper, All statistical analyses were performed by Microsoft Excel 97 program. Paired t-test was used to discriminate the effect of alveolar molding by PNAM appliance. 1. Closure of the alveolar cleft gap in bilateral cleft cases by molding therapy was completed successfully, 2. Alveolar molding inhibited outward growth of lateral segments and produced inward bending of lateral segments. 3. By bending the anterior part of the vomer, the premaxilla could be rotated and moved. posteriorly via alveolar molding. Conclusion This appliance can be applied to bilateral cleft lip and palate infants with satisfactory results before cheiloplasty.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.4 s.99
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• pp.235-245
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• 2003

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PNAM appliance and cheiloplasty on alveolar molding. Samples consisted of 16 unilateral cleft lip and palate infants (10 males and 6 female, mean age=37.0 days after birth, average alveolar cleft gap=10.46m), who were treated with PNAM appliances by one orthodontist and rotation- advancement cheiloplasty by one surgeon in Seoul National University Hospital. Average duration of alveolar molding treatment was 13.10 weeks and these patients were recalled at average 8.31 weeks after cheiloplasty. These patients' models were obtained at initial visit (T0, mean age : $37.0\pm27.89$ days after birth), after successful alveolar molding (T1, mean age : $119.25\pm40.18$ days after birth), and after cheilopasty (T2, mean age : $190.81\pm42.78$ days after birth). Seven linear and five angular variables were measured using 1 : 1 photometry and soft ware program(V-ceph. Cybermed. Seoul, Korea). Paired t-test was performed to investigate statistical significance at p<0.05 level. 1 The posterior parts of alveolar segments were the stable structures during alveolar molding treatment period and after cheiloplasty in infants. 2. The closure of cleft gap during alveolar molding was usually due to backward bending of the whole part of the greater segment. 3. Although forward growth of the greater segment was hindered by alveolar molding, it resumed after cheiloplasty. 4. Increase of anterior inter-segment angle after cheiloplasty was due to the molding effect of the lip scar pressure.