Long-term Observation of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate and Closed-down Palate Using the Push-back Method

Abstract

We report the long-term stability of unilateral cleft lip and palate cases of palatoplasty using the push-back method after 12 years of treatment. As an example, we performed palatoplasty for a woman using the push-back method followed by orthodontic treatment. Initially, the patient had retracted maxillary, serious front stenosis of the maxillary dentition and severe crossbite. After the treatment, we could not observe the change in the anterior posterior relationship of the maxillary bone, but the crossbite had improved due to the lateral front enlargement of the maxillary dentition. At 12 years after orthodontic treatment, we did not see any skeletal change, but we confirmed the lingual inclination of the maxillary anterior teeth.