Nasoalveolar Molding in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding is a non surgical, non painful reshaping of gums, lips and nostrils together in cleft lip and palate patients. It should begin as soon as possible after the birth of the child. This technique utilizes wire and acrylic nasal stents attached to an intraoral appliance. The timing of the initiation of NAM treatment is of utmost importance for early and successful rehabilitation in cleft lip and palate patients. The moldability of the perioral structures in the early age is utilized for selective control of growth patterns using NAM technique. It enables the surgeon to achieve a better and more predictable outcome with less scar tissue formation. Various authors have proved NAM to be an effective adjunctive therapy for reducing hard and soft tissue cleft deformity before surgery. It is gaining more importance nowadays as it reduces number of surgeries, gives psychological reassurance to parents and also reduces the overall cost of treatment. NAM technique has made the cleft lip and palate rehabilitation much more esthetically acceptable and physiologically appropriate.