Comparison of nasolabial morphology between patients with and without presurgical nasoalveolar molding: A 3D cross-sectional study

Abstract

Presurgical nasoalveolar molding （PNAM） is a common treatment option for patients with cleft lip and palate and is effective in reducing the width of the alveolar cleft. However, few studies have focused on morphological changes in the nose and lips following PNAM. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effects of PNAM on nasal and labial morphology and compare nasolabial morphology between patients with and without PNAM using three-dimensional facial data. This cross-sectional study included 40 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Of the 40 patients, 20 underwent PNAM （the PNAM group）, and 20 did not （the non-PNAM group）. The alar slope and columellar angles were significantly smaller in the PNAM group than in the non-PNAM group. Additionally, the nasal width decreased in the PNAM group compared with the non-PNAM group. These findings indicate that PNAM improves nasal morphology by reducing nasal angle deviations and narrowing nasal width, highlighting its role in optimizing presurgical treatment strategies for patients with cleft lip and palate.