What is the connection between cleft patients and orthodontics?

A cleft in the facial area is one of the most common developmental anomalies. The care of patients born with a cleft is a special area of orthodontics, which requires not only specialist expertise but also close cooperation with other medical disciplines.

Initial steps, care at the centres

Care for children with a cleft must begin immediately after birth. Numerous surgical, plastic surgery and dental procedures must follow one another in a precisely coordinated way. For this reason, the first phase of care, up to about age 7–8, is almost exclusively handled at centres operating within the public health system. Later, orthodontic treatment continues on its own for many years, preparing the ground for the surgeries that become necessary. Although this remains state-supported care, due to the overload of the system unfortunately the procedures often slip and patients "get lost." This is where we can effectively help. With high-level professional expertise, in a pleasant environment, with maximum respect for the time of parents and young patients.

The role of orthodontics in private practice

Most young patients with a cleft require multi-step orthodontic treatment. The upper jaw is most often too narrow, teeth are missing, and the existing teeth often emerge in very wrong positions. At our clinic, orthodontic care for cleft patients is always fully personalised, adapted to the nature of the cleft and to our patients' special needs. Most often expansion of the upper jaw is needed, followed by aligning the canines and preparing for bone-grafting surgery. Later, of course, we accompany the development of the jaws all the way to the final surgery that can be performed at age 17–18. We work closely with speech therapists and maxillofacial surgeons. From the Hyrax rapid expander through fixed-appliance treatment all the way to orthognathic surgical preparation — all of this is our area of expertise!