Cleft Lip and Palate Digital Impression Workflow

The traditional method of capturing cleft lip and palate morphology using dental impressions and plaster casts has long been considered the gold standard. However, especially for infants, digital impressions have proven to be accurate and safe. We present a protocol successfully adopted by 2 cleft centers that utilize intraoral scanners for cleft care in an outpatient setting, as well as in the operating theater. We demonstrate the positioning of the patient, scanner, monitor, and clinician, along with technical steps to capture a digital impression of the lip, nose, and cleft palate within approximately 1 minute. We also show how digital impressions can improve documentation, allow digital pretreatment, and be used for outcome comparison. The illustrated description is accompanied by a step-by-step video. Digital impressions provide enhanced 3-dimensional reconstructions of the complete cleft anatomy, which are beneficial for presurgical orthopedic planning, anatomical studies, and long-term treatment documentation. This approach minimizes risks such as airway obstruction and storage challenges encountered with physical models. Its adoption in cleft centers represents a significant advancement in cleft care, facilitating more accurate records and improving patient safety. Digital impressions can set a new standard in cleft care, improving record-taking for clinical needs and outcome analysis, and replacing traditional methods.