Application of palatal RB obturator in babies with isolated palatal cleft

Abstract

Isolated cleft of secondary palate has a specific clinical picture due to a wide communication between the mouth and nose cavity. As a consequence of that, babies born with this malformation are often subject to infections of the upper bronchial tubes, middle ear, speech disorders, and certainly the most difficult existential problem they face at the very beginning of their lives, the impossibility of suckling (breast feeding). Such babies have to be fed with gastric probe. The difficulties in their nutrition have often been described in literature, yet a singular attitude toward early orthodontic therapy has not been adopted still. The aim of the paper was to describe a design and application of obturator immediately after the birth of a baby with isolated palatal cleft, and the role in feeding. We presented a female neonate, born on 27th December 2007, with a wide fissure in the shape of the letter U over the entire secondary palate. The baby was referred to the Stomatology Clinic due to nutrition impossibility. To avoid feeding with gastric probe, the formation of RB obturator was performed (artificial palate). Hereby, the procedure of obturator making with an explanation of its function is presented. The application of RB obturator and the necessary education of parents have a major role in shortening the time of breast feeding and increasing the amount of food intake and, thus, for the normal growth and development of newborn infants with isolated palate cleft.