Printed Aligners for Nasoalveolar Molding Treatment

A sample of 10 infants born with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) ranging in age from seven to 45 days who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and subjected to the following study procedures: maxillary impression, extraoral scanning for nasolabial area and facial photos.

For digital workflow; the following steps will be done:

• Digital model preparation.
• Model segmentation and modification.
• Virtual treatment simulation.
• Virtual appliance construction.
• Three-dimensional aligner printing.

After aligners printing, each infant will be delivered his own set of aligners. The nasal stent will be fixed to the aligner then delivered with a meticulous demonstration for parents regarding adhesive placement, insertion, and removal. Parents will be instructed to remove the aligner once per day for proper cleaning.

Infants will be followed up every two weeks till maxillary arch segments approximation and improvement of nasolabial tissue morphology. Finally, post-treatment records will be taken.

• Study Setting: The study will be performed in the clinic of the Orthodontic Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain-Shams University.

• Study procedure: Infants who meet the inclusion criteria and approve participation in the study will be included. An informed consent will be signed by the infant's parents before their enrollment in the study in which the aim of the study, the methodology, and possible complications will be clearly described. This research will be reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University.

IX. Statistical Analysis Methods of assessment

• Pre-operative T1 and postoperative T2 models will be digitally measured, assessed and compared.
• Pre-operative T1 and postoperative T2 soft tissue scans will be digitally measured, assessed and compared.
• Final virtual models and final infant models will be digitally compared.
• Total treatment duration will be calculated. Finally, data will be tabulated and statistically analyzed

Inclusion criteria

• Non-syndromic complete unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate.
• Age is up to 45 days.
• Cleft size more than 5mm between anterior margins of cleft segments.

Exclusion criteria

• Infants are diagnosed with other congenital malformations.
• Parents refusing NAM treatment.
• Parents are unable to attend the clinic every 2 weeks.
• Infants are born with another form of clefts like facial and median clefts.