Maxillofacial Prosthodontics

The child with a cleft lip or palate may be observed or treated by the maxillofacial prosthodontist at several points along the road to adulthood. In some cases, the expertise of the maxillofacial prosthodontist will actually be called into play before the maxillofacial surgeon operates. For example, with some babies, it is necessary to align the gums of the upper jaw before the maxillofacial surgeon can operate on the cleft lip. In these cases, the maxillofacial prosthodontist makes a mold or impression of the upper jaw and designs an appliance to bring the upper tooth arch into alignment. Such appliances may involve headgear with straps that fit around the outside of the face and head, or they may be smaller appliances, pinned into the palate for several weeks before surgery. In either case, the maxillofacial prosthodontist works closely with the surgeon to mold the front bones of the upper jaw into a position that permits surgical correction of the cleft lip.

 Glossary