RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effectiveness of presurgical nasoalveolar molding therapy on unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 169 OP 178 DO 10.15537/smj.2018.2.21020 VO 39 IS 2 A1 Kinouchi, Nao A1 Horiuchi, Shinya A1 Yasue, Akihiro A1 Kuroda, Yuko A1 Kawai, Nobuhiko A1 Watanabe, Keiichiro A1 Izawa, Takashi A1 Hashimoto, Ichiro A1 Hassan, Ali H. A1 Tanaka, Eiji YR 2018 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/39/2/169.abstract AB Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding (PNAM) in patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities.Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 29 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate defects, of whom 13 were treated with palatal devices with nasal stents (PNAM group) and 16 were treated with palatal devices without nasal stents or surgical tapes (control group). Submental oblique photographs and orthodontic models were longitudinally obtained at the initial visit (T1) and immediately before (T2) and after cheiloplasty (T3). Asymmetry of the external nose, degree of columellar shifting, nasal tip/ala nose ratio, nasal base angle, interalveolar gap, and the sagittal difference in the alveolar gap were measured. The study was conducted in the Orthodontic Clinic at Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan between 1997 and 2012.Results: At T1, there were no significant intergroup differences in the first 4 asymmetry parameters. At T2, the PNAM group showed a significant improvement in all values compared to the control group. At T3, the PNAM group showed significant improvement in nasal asymmetry and columellar shifting. Model analysis showed significantly greater changes in the inter-alveolar gap and the sagittal difference of the alveolar cleft gap from T1 to T2 in the PNAM group.Conclusion: The use of PNAM is indispensable for pre-surgical orthodontic treatment at the early postnatal age.