It has been widely accepted that the malocclusion caused by a, cleft of the lip and/or palate involves so many complicated problems for oral habilitation that makes the orthodontic treatment difficult and time-consuming. The continuous montoring therapy which featured an incessant orthodontic intervention from the beginning of childhood through to the late adolescence of 18-20 years of age had been considered most effective approach until 1960s. In the regime the patient must from time to time visit all the members of the Cleft Palate Team as well as his general medical and dental practioners. These visits cause absenteeism from school and poor co-operation with wearing appliances and having them adjusted. To late the disadvantages are pointed out as follows;
1) Overtreatment leads to a breakdown of the orthodontist-patient relationship,
2) Frequent visits force psychological and economical burdens upon both the patient and his families.
3) Early treatment neither gurantees the better result nor reduces the need for later orthodontic treatment.
Hindsight suggests that treatment concentrated in the permanent dentition can induce better co-operation and resultant functional occlusion.
Then, the authors are proposing a new concept of four-stage orthodontic management which is coincided with the dentofacial growth and development of a cleft palate patient. Stage I: In the deciduous dentition (IIA-IIC in dental age) no routine treatment is basically carried out but the case with,
a) a severe anterior and/or posterior crossbite,
b) a protruded premaxilla with collapsed lateral segments, or
c) unfavorable dental problems for speech therapy.
Stage II: In the early mixed dentition (IIIA) treatment-focuses on correction of collapsed segments and alignment of the maxillary permanent incisors from the esthetic and psychological points of view.
Stage III: In the early permanent dentition (IIIC-IVA) corrective orthodontics by the full-banded or -bonded system plays the most important and indispensable part of all treatment.
Stage IV: In the late permanent dentition (IVC-VA) treatment includes final alignment of the teeth and pre- and post-surgical orthodontics.
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