Interdisciplinary management of a patient with a bilateral cleft lip and palate and 12 congenitally missing teeth

This article reports the interdisciplinary treatment of a girl born with a complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. She had congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors and canines and mandibular incisors, canines, and second premolars in addition to third molars. At age 11 years 2 months, she was treated with rapid maxillary expansion followed by bonding of the maxillary arch. Cranial harvested alveolar bone graft surgery was done at age 17 years 2 months. Mandibular arch treatment was started at age 19 years using single tooth implants initially as orthodontic anchorage devices and secondarily as prosthetic abutments. Teeth were placed in strategic positions for a 4 incisor fixed partial denture cemented on the 2 lateral incisor implants and screw-retained crowns on premolar implants. The maxillary arch was restored with screw-retained crowns on canine implants with lateral incisors in cantilever and pink ceramic. Two years posttreatment records at age 22 years 6 months showed long-term stability with good occlusion, facial balance, and smile esthetics.

Automated summary

This article reports the interdisciplinary treatment of a girl born with a complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. The treatment involved rapid maxillary expansion, alveolar bone graft surgery, and single tooth implants to achieve long-term stability with good occlusion, facial balance, and smile esthetics.