Effect of a Modified Nasoalveolar Molding Protocol Using a Novel Fabrication Method in Infants With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Objective To compare columellar lengthening, alveolar cleft gap reduction, alveolar molding stage duration, other arch width measurements, and parents’ cooperation between modified nasoalveolar molding (MPNAM) and conventional PNAM in infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate. Design Prospective, randomized controlled trial. Setting Pediatric Dentistry Department Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University. Patients/Participants Twenty-five nonsyndromic infants with unilateral cleft lip and palate, aged 14 to 30 days. Interventions : Group A (PNAM) Alveolar molding plate and lip taping; nasal stents added after alveolar cleft gap ≤6 mm. Group B (MPNAM) Lip taping only until alveolar cleft gap ≤6 mm, then plate and nasal stents. Main Outcome Measures Columellar length (C), alveolar cleft gap (A-A’), Alveolar molding stage duration, Parents’ cooperation. Results Modified nasoalveolar molding demonstrated greater columellar lengthening compared with conventional PNAM. Alveolar gap reduction was comparable. Alveolar molding stage duration was less in MPNAM. Parents’ cooperation showed better scores with MPNAM. Conclusions Modified nasoalveolar molding appears to improve columellar lengthening compared with conventional PNAM, although further studies are required to confirm these findings, and it may also be associated with higher parental cooperation.