title: Gingivoperiosteoplasty as well as early palatal cleft closure is unproductive.
abstract: A review of the cleft palate presurgical orthopedic appliance literature reveals that the appliance's use in neonatal treatment is limited to the molding of neonatal palatal segments. When coupled with primary bone grafting and/or gingivoperiosteoplasty, the long-term effects on facial aesthetics and dental occlusion are compromised, requiring extensive surgical-orthodontic corrective treatment. To avoid the bad effects, the surgeon/orthodontist should take into consideration the extent of palatal osteogenic deficiency, the presence or absence of teeth, the nature of the pharyngeal architecture, and the facial growth pattern. Gingivoperiosteoplasty and early palate surgery should not be performed before 12 months. The best time to close the palate cleft is between 18 and 24 months in most cases when the velocity of palate growth has leveled off. Secondary alveolar bone grafting of the alveolar cleft is the most physiologically attuned procedure that can be used to replace missing alveolar bone.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. Sberk3140@aol.com
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
mesh_terms: D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D004954:Esthetics; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D010521:Periosteum / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors