Craniofacial Orthodontics

Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment

Craniofacial orthodontics is the sub-specialty of orthodontics that focuses on the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary treatment of patients with birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. These conditions often require coordinated surgical and medical interventions or extraordinary behavioral management to make orthodontic treatment practical and effective. Braces treatments for cleft lip and palate patients tends to be more complex, takes more time and clinical resources, and requires working with multiple dental, surgical, and medical providers to get the best results. Current practice standards call for a coordinated plan of care between the fellowship-trained craniofacial orthodontists and plastic-craniofacial surgeons - among other specialists - in order to achieve excellent and esthetic facial results.

Team Treatment

Treating patients with cleft lip and palate is commonly done so in a team setting and usually spans the first two decades of life. Our doctor has the experience and education necessary to deliver cleft lip and palate treatments by virtue of specific post-residency craniofacial and surgical orthodontic fellowship training. We have clinical expertise in all aspects of orthodontic braces treatment for infants, children, adolescents, and adults with facial clefts, craniofacial diagnoses, and complex medical and special needs. Our doctor brings extensive training in, and knowledge of, craniofacial and dental growth and development to deliver successful treatment results.

We are experienced and confident when working with patients that require craniofacial and special care treatments. Our doctor brings formal craniofacial orthodontic training combined with prior special care dentistry training and clinical research, and a long-standing interest for caring for the more complex types of jaw and face abnormalities.

Further Resources

Patients and parents may access additional resources related to these conditions by visiting the website for the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) www.acpa-cpf.org. The ACPA recommends that patients born with birth defects benefit the most when all their providers work together in inter-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring not only the best outcome, but also the most effective utilization of health resources.

For questions regarding the orthodontic braces treatment options for cleft lip and palate, contact our office today.

Additional resources are also available from the website of the Cleft Palate Foundation at http://www.cleftline.org