Nasoalveolar Molding Therapy in a Newborn With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Case Report

Cleft lip and palate are common congenital deformities that significantly impact facial anatomy and function, often requiring surgical intervention to correct. Presurgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM) therapy has emerged as an effective nonsurgical approach to improve surgical outcomes by reducing the severity of clefts and molding the alveolar, lip, and nasal segments into more favorable positions. This case report describes the use of NAM therapy in a 15-day-old patient with unilateral cleft lip, palate, and nasal involvement to improve outcomes before cheiloplasty. The patient presented with significant feeding difficulties due to a large palatal cleft. After obtaining parental consent, we conducted a series of procedures to construct and insert an acrylic NAM plate with a retention button and nasal stent, performing weekly adjustments to reshape the alveolar segments and nasal cartilage. Weekly remodeling included selective modifications to the NAM plate, the addition of soft liners, and the use of nasal stents to lift the collapsed nasal cartilages and restore nasal symmetry. Post-treatment results showed a substantial reduction in the cleft lip gap from 17 mm to 6 mm, alveolus gap from 14 mm to 4 mm, left nasal width from 17 mm to 11 mm, and increased left alar height from 4 mm to 7 mm. The successful application of NAM therapy demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing cleft gaps, improving nasal anatomy, and preparing the patient for future surgical interventions with minimal scar formation. This case reinforces the benefits of NAM in reducing cleft deformities, improving feeding function, and avoiding more invasive surgical procedures.