Impact of Wearing Palatal Expanders on the Quality of Life of Children Aged 8 to 10 Years

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the impact of wearing palatal expanders on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children aged 8 to 10 years. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 35 children aged 8 to 10 years treated at the orthodontics and pediatric dentistry outpatient clinics affiliated with the Dental School. Children were divided in two groups: 17 were submitted to palatal expansion treatment (Group 1), while 18 just received coronal polishing and topical fluoride application (Group 2). The Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) was used to assess children's OHRQoL. The questionnaire was administered before the expander was placed, at the end of its activation, and before its removal. Intervals between the interviews were similar in the two groups. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used for data analyses. Results: The overall CPQ8-10 score was not significantly different between the groups. The results show statistically significant differences between the two groups only for the functional limitations domain after activation of the appliance (p=0.001). Conclusion: Palatal expanders may negatively affect children's functions only during the initial wearing period.

The first-year follow-up of a cleft lip and palate patient treated with nasoalveolar molding (NAM)

Abstract The objectives of pre-surgical orthopedics are to allow surgical repair with minimal tension of the involved tissues and less restriction to the craniofacial growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of nasoalveolar model (NAM) as a pre-operative therapy in a patient with bilateral cleft lip and palate followed by labioplasty and palatoplasty. A 15-day-old patient underwent orthopedic treatment with NAM. After pre-operative treatment, retraction of the pre-maxilla was observed with reduction of the fissure. Due to the successful effects of NAM treatment the patient had a one-step surgery for lip correction. Six months later, due to lip pressure the fissure was further decreased. After six months, the patient underwent palatoplasty. Both surgeries contributed to the remaining closure of the fissure, which were reduced by half compared to the end of pre-operative treatment. The uses of NAM as a pre-operative treatment approached the alveolar segments, centralized the pre-maxilla, decreased the cleft palate resulting in a marked improvement of the arch and provide superior surgical results. In addition, it allows the primary repair of the patient's lip with asymmetric bilateral fissure in only one-step surgery; in consequence, it will reduce treatment morbidity and decrease cost of treatment.

Resumo Os objetivos da ortopedia pré-cirúrgica são permitir a correção cirúrgica com mínima tensão dos tecidos envolvidos e menor restrição ao crescimento craniofacial. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os benefícios do modelo nasoalveolar (NAM) como terapia pré-operatória em um paciente com fissura labiopalatina bilateral seguida de labioplastia e palatoplastia. Um paciente de 15 dias de idade foi submetido a tratamento ortopédico com NAM. Após o tratamento pré-operatório, observou-se retração da pré-maxila com redução da fissura. Devido aos efeitos bem-sucedidos do tratamento com NAM, o paciente realizou a cirurgia em um único tempo cirúrgico para correção dos lábios. Seis meses após verificou-se a continuidade da redução da fissura devido à pressão labial. Após dozes meses, o paciente foi submetido à palatoplastia. Ambas as cirurgias contribuíram para o fechamento remanescente da fissura, que foram reduzidas pela metade em comparação com o final do tratamento pré-operatório. O uso do NAM como tratamento pré-operatório proporcionou a aproximação dos segmentos alveolares, centralização da pré-maxila, diminuição da fissura palatina, resultando em melhora acentuada do arco, resultando em procedimentos cirúrgicos mais eficazes. Além disso, permitiu o reparo primário do lábio do paciente com fissura bilateral assimétrica em apenas uma cirurgia; em conseqüência, reduzindo a morbidade do tratamento e diminuição dos custos do tratamento.