Dentistry

Presurgical orthopedic usage among cleft lip and palate teams in the united states

International Conference on Dental & Oral Health

August 19-21, 2013 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, NV, USA

LaQuia A. Walker, Zuker ED, BJ Sanders, JE Jones and RJ Havlik

Accepted Abstracts: Dentistry

Abstract:

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify ?used protocol for correction of cleft lip and palate including presurgical orthopedics and impression techniques among the cleft lip and palate teams who are members of the American Cleft Palate- Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Design: A web-based survey tool was emailed to all the Cleft Lip and Palate Teams throughout the United States who were members of the ACPA and had a valid email address listed on the ACPA website. IRB approval was obtained from Indiana University. Results: Survey responses were received by 23 teams with an overall response rate of 14 percent. Seventy-two percent currently utilize some form of presurgical orthopedics. Among the types of presurgical orthopedic appliances utilized in the correction of a unilateral and bilateral CL/P, the most frequently utilized was reported to be the naso-alveolar molding appliance (64%). The majority of teams reported using alginate (44%) and polyvinyl siloxane (39%) for impressions, with the most common patient position being supine. Institutional protocol was the reason most commonly given as the rationale for utilizing a certain type of therapy for presurgical orthopedic treatment. Conclusions: The NAM appliance was reported to be the most utilized presurgical orthopedic therapy among craniofacial teams for both unilateral and bilateral cleft palate repair. The reported percentage of teams utilizing presurgical orthopedics in this study is consistent with past data. In total, differences in orthopedic protocol did not differ greatly from one region to another

Biography :

LaQuia A. Walker obtained her DDS from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and her certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and MPH from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is the pediatric dentist for the Riley Hospital for Children Craniofacial Team. Her research focuses on emerging technologies in dentistry and techniques in presurgical orthopedics in the treatment of cleft lip and palate. She currently serves on committees for the ADA, AAPD, NDA, and ADEA.