title: [The changes of palate cleft gap of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate infants before and after presurgical orthodontic and cheiloplasty].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the changes of palate cleft gap of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) infants before and after presurgical orthodontic and cheiloplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 18 complete UCLP infants who were treated using presurgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) appliance and cheiloplasty. The maxillary models were obtained at the initial visit, after PNAM treatment 1 month before cheiloplasty, and 2 months after cheiloplasty. The change of palate cleft gap were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After PNAM treatment and cheiloplasty, the lip profile was obviously improved, cleft gap was reduced, and the height of ala nasi fornix was recovered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PNAM treatment can improve the lip shape and nasal deformity degree of UCLP patient. The cleft gap and upper lip tension are reduced.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
authors.forename: Si-Nian
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tong-Tong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Yu-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Xiao-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D002971:Cleft Lip; D002972:Cleft Palate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008046:Lip; D009666:Nose; D011300:Preoperative Care