Primary Palatoplasty Research Articles

Speech Production Skills in Children With Cleft Palate Who Were Internationally Adopted.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of international adoption (IA), age at palatoplasty (PR age), and velopharyngeal sufficiency (VPS) on articulation outcomes. This was a cross-sectional, prospective, observational study. Outpatient hospital clinic. Fifty-one IA and 65 not-adopted (NA) children between the ages of 3 and 9 with nonsyndromic cleft palate with or without cleft lip. The Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-2nd Edition (GFTA-2) standard score and cleft-related articulation errors (CREs). Articulation impairment was observed for 40% to 76% of NA children and 71% to 92% IA children, depending on age. PR age mean IA = 2.07 (0.86) years; NA = 1.23 (0.71) years. Children who were IA had poorer performance on the GFTA-2 ( B = -13.82, P = .015). Children who were IA were not significantly more likely to make CRE; rather, age at the time of assessment ( B = -.10, P = .002) and VPS ( B = .24, P = .021) were associated with CRE. Children who were IA demonstrated poorer articulation skills. Although primary palatoplasty was accomplished later among children who were IA, age at assessment and VP status (not PR age) were significantly correlated with articulation outcomes. Implications for timing of surgical intervention are discussed.

Universal Applicability of the Furlow Palatoplasty: Resident as Primary Surgeon in a Consecutive, Nonselective Series.

Questions persist regarding the general applicability of the Furlow palatoplasty technique, and thus, widespread adoption of its use has been uneven. This study describes a consecutive, nonselective series of primary Furlow palatoplasties. Highlighted is the unique fact that plastic surgical residents functioned as the primary surgeon for all steps of all procedures throughout the series. A retrospective review was undertaken of all primary palatoplasties performed under the direction of the senior surgeon between December 2005 and April 2012. A stringent requirement for speech outcome reporting was patient age at the latest assessment of older than 4.5 years. Other measured parameters included fistula rate, incidence of secondary surgery, and procedure duration. Seventy-five patients were included in this study. Nasal resonance was rated as "normal" in 56.1% of the patients and "mildly hypernasal or better" in 95.1% of the patients. Articulation errors were detected in 14.6% of the patients, and symptoms related to nasal air emission were detected in 4.9% of the patients. Overall fistula rate was 5.3%. The following associations were detected: (1) Veau cleft type and procedure duration, P = 0.001; (2) resident year of training and procedure duration, P = 0.009; (3) developmental delay and resonance score, P = 0.002; (4) patient age at surgery and resonance score, P = 0.025; and (5) presence of syndrome and resonance score, P = 0.036. This nonselective series of consecutive Furlow palatoplasty procedures demonstrates that plastic surgical residents are able to match best published clinical results performing the entire procedure under the close supervision and guidance of an assisting surgical mentor.

Does Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block Improve Pain Control and Intraoperative Hemodynamics in Children Undergoing Palatoplasty? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Children undergoing cleft palate repair have pain, dysphagia, and wound irritation in the immediate postoperative phase that may compromise surgical outcomes. This trial evaluates the efficacy of the sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) in optimizing intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative analgesia in children undergoing primary palatoplasty. The study was designed as a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing the use of SPGB with general anesthesia (GA) (study group) versus the use of only GA (control group). Routine preoperative documentation included type of cleft, patient weight, hemoglobin (Hb%), packed cell volume (PCV), blood pressure, and echocardiogram. Intraoperative monitoring included heart rate, blood pressure, and surgical field assessment. Postoperatively, the pain score, pain-free duration, and need for rescue analgesics were recorded. Postsurgical changes in Hb% and PCV values were assessed. Data analysis of collected variables was performed using SPSS software (version 16; IBM, Armonk, NY). Quantitative data were assessed for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test and analyzed using the independent-sample t test, and the Fisher exact test was used for comparison of the binary variable (gender). The outcome variables were compared between the study and control groups after adjustment for confounding variables. P<.05 was considered statistically significant. We randomized 100 patients undergoing primary palatoplasty under GA into the control group (n=49) and study group (SPGB) (n=51). Three patients were excluded from the control group because of changes in intraoperative anesthetic protocol. The results showed statistically significant differences in the postsurgical pain-free duration (19.46minutes vs 87.59minutes) and mean blood loss (105.5mL vs 62mL) in favor of the study group. Surgical field and postoperative reduction of Hb% and PCV were also significantly favorable for the study group. SPGB is a potent pre-emptive technique offering excellent perioperative analgesia, hemodynamic stability, and a clear surgical field.

Incidence of Speech-Correcting Surgery in Children With Isolated Cleft Palate.

Speech-correcting surgeries (pharyngoplasty) are performed to correct velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). This study aimed to analyze the need for speech-correcting surgery in children with isolated cleft palate (ICP) and to determine differences among cleft extent, gender, and primary technique used. In addition, we assessed the timing and number of secondary procedures performed and the incidence of operated fistulas. Retrospective medical chart review study from hospital archives and electronic records. These comprised the 423 consecutive nonsyndromic children (157 males and 266 females) with ICP treated at the Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center of Helsinki University Hospital during 1990 to 2016. The total incidence of VPI surgery was 33.3% and the fistula repair rate, 7.8%. Children with cleft of both the hard and soft palate (n = 300) had a VPI secondary surgery rate of 37.3% (fistula repair rate 10.7%), whereas children with only cleft of the soft palate (n = 123) had a corresponding rate of 23.6% (fistula repair rate 0.8%). Gender and primary palatoplasty technique were not considered significant factors in need for VPI surgery. The majority of VPI surgeries were performed before school age. One fifth of patients receiving speech-correcting surgery had more than one subsequent procedure. The need for speech-correcting surgery and fistula repair was related to the severity of the cleft. Although the majority of the corrective surgeries were done before the age of 7 years, a considerable number were performed at a later stage, necessitating long-term observation.

Palatal Fistula Risk after Primary Palatoplasty

Humanitarian surgical organizations provide palatoplasties for patients without access to surgical care. Few organizations have evaluated the outcomes of these trips. This study evaluates the palatal fistula rate in patients from two cohorts in rural China and one in the United States. This study compared the odds of fistula formation among three cohorts whose palates were repaired between 2005 and 2009. One cohort included 97 Chinese patients operated on by teams from the United States and Canada under the auspices of Resurge International. They were compared to cohorts at Huaxi Stomatology Hospital and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Age, fistula presence, and Veau class were compared among cohorts using Chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to analyze predictors of fistula formation. The fistula risk was 35.4% in patients treated by humanitarian teams, 12.8% at Huaxi University Hospital and 2.5% at UCSF ( P < 0.001). Age and Veau class were associated with fistula formation (Age P = 0.0015; Veau P < 0.001). ReSurge and Huaxi patients had 20.2 and 5.6 times the odds of developing a fistula, respectively, compared to UCSF patients ( P < 0.01, both). A multivariable model controlling for surgical group, age, and gender showed an association between Veau class and the odds of fistula formation. Chinese children undergoing palatoplasty by international teams had higher odds of palatal fistula than children treated by Chinese surgeons in established institutions and children treated in the United States. More research is required to identify factors affecting complication rates in low-resource environments.

Speech outcomes following Sommerlad primary palatoplasty: Results of the Ghent University Hospital

Objective and subjectsSpeech outcomes were described for 16 patients with cleft palate (mean age: 5.4 years) following Sommerlad primary palatoplasty performed by a single surgeon of the Ghent University Hospital. These speech outcomes were compared with those of an age and gender matched control group without cleft palate (mean age: 5.3 years). MethodsSpeech intelligibility/distinctiveness, resonance, nasal airflow and articulation, were perceptually evaluated. Additionally, nasalance values and the NSI 2.0 were determined. ResultsIn seven patients, speech intelligibility/distinctiveness was disordered. Hypernasality was present in twelve participants, whereas nasal emission and nasal turbulence were perceived in thirteen and five patients respectively. Both perceptual and instrumental speech evaluations were significantly poorer in the patient group in comparison to the control group. ConclusionsPatients still present with both obligatory and compensatory speech disorders following Sommerlad’s palatoplasty. In the future, a Dutch speech assessment protocol will be developed in order to standardize follow-up of these patients and to allow for within-center and inter-center comparisons.

Incidence and Contributing Factors for Palatal Fistula after Primary Palatoplasty in a Medical Collaboration Program in Madagascar

Incidence and Contributing Factors for Palatal Fistula after Primary Palatoplasty in a Medical Collaboration Program in Madagascar

Surgical Closure of the Cleft Palate Has a Transient Obstructive Effect on the Upper Airway in Children.

To prospectively investigate the occurrence of respiratory symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) following primary palatoplasty in children with cleft palate (CP). Fifty-six nonsyndromic children presenting CP with a previously repaired cleft lip (CL) or without CL were assessed before and after palate repair. Twenty nonsyndromic children with isolated CL were analyzed as controls before and after lip repair. Respiratory symptoms were investigated preoperatively, and at early and late postoperative periods. Based on the parent reports of "difficulty of breathing (D), apnea events (A) and/or snoring (S) during sleep, a validated OSA index (1.42D + 1.41A + 0.71S - 3.83) was used to predict absence of OSA, possible OSA, and presence of OSA, at the 3 periods analyzed. Screening for OSA showed that the CP group exhibited an increased mean index at the early postoperative assessment, suggesting "possible OSA," and a higher frequency of snoring at the early and late postoperative assessments, as compared to the CL group (P < .05). Sleep apnea events were not reported. Surgical closure of the palate has an obstructive effect on the upper airway in the short term, causing OSA-related respiratory symptoms, mostly transient. However, the high prevalence of snoring still observed in the long term indicate that children with a palatal cleft who undergo surgical repair are at risk for OSA. The results support the conclusion that OSA is underappreciated in this population.

Changes in the Height of Velopharyngeal Closure Relative to the Cervical Spine From Infancy Through Adolescence in Patients With Cleft Palate.

Palpation is often used to identify C1, an intraoperative landmark, for placement of the pharyngoplasty. However, little is known about the relationship between the palatal plane (PP) and this cervical spine landmark across select variables. This study seeks to analyze variations in the height of velopharyngeal closure relative to C1 across differing cleft types and age groups. Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. Large, multidisciplinary center for craniofacial disorders. Clinical lateral cephalograms were analyzed in nonsyndromic patients who underwent primary palatoplasty. Regression analysis and analysis of covariance were completed to determine how age and cleft type impact underlying cervical and velopharyngeal measures. Age ( P < .001) and cleft type ( P = .036) were significant predictors of the distance between the height of velopharyngeal closure and C1. Those with greater severity of clefting demonstrated larger distances between the height of velopharyngeal closure and C1. Compared to normative data, children with cleft palate have significantly larger distances between the PP and C1. The height of velopharyngeal closure above C1 was observed to range from 3.6 to 12.6 mm across cleft populations. This study demonstrates the variability in C1 as a landmark across variables including cleft type and age. Because of differences in the height of velopharyngeal closure across cleft types relative to C1, it is necessary to preoperatively quantify the vertical distance between the PP and palpable intraoperative landmark, C1, to determine the appropriate height of pharyngoplasty insertion.

Placement of an antibiotic oral pack on the hard palate after primary cleft palatoplasty: a randomized controlled trial into the effect on fistula rates

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine whether placement of an antibiotic oral pack on the hard palate reduces fistula rates after primary cleft palatoplasty.Subjects and methodsThis study was a parallel blocked randomized controlled trial. The study consisted of two groups of 100 patients each with non-syndromic unilateral complete cleft lip, alveolus, and hard and soft palate that underwent primary palatoplasty. Group A had an oral pack placed on the hard palate for 5 days postoperatively while group B did not. Occurrence of fistulae between both groups was tested using odds ratios (OR).ResultsIn 2% of the patients in group A, a fistula was found 6 months after palatal surgery. In contrast, in 21% of the patients in group B, a palatal fistula could be confirmed. The fistula occurrence in group A was statistically significantly lower than that in group B (OR = 0.0768, CI = [0.02 … 0.34], p < 0.001).ConclusionThe findings of this study provide evidence that the rate of fistula formation after primary palatoplasty is significantly reduced if a pack soaked with antibiotic cream is placed on the palate postoperatively for 5 days.Clinical relevanceThe use of an antibiotic pack after cleft palate repair can be recommended to prevent occurrence of oronasal fistulae.

Speech profile of patients undergoing primary palatoplasty.

To characterize the profile and speech characteristics of patients undergoing primary palatoplasty in a Brazilian university hospital, considering the time of intervention (early, before two years of age; late, after two years of age). Participants were 97 patients of both genders with cleft palate and/or cleft and lip palate, assigned to the Speech-language Pathology Department, who had been submitted to primary palatoplasty and presented no prior history of speech-language therapy. Patients were divided into two groups: early intervention group (EIG) - 43 patients undergoing primary palatoplasty before 2 years of age and late intervention group (LIG) - 54 patients undergoing primary palatoplasty after 2 years of age. All patients underwent speech-language pathology assessment. The following parameters were assessed: resonance classification, presence of nasal turbulence, presence of weak intraoral air pressure, presence of audible nasal air emission, speech understandability, and compensatory articulation disorder (CAD). At statistical significance level of 5% (p≤0.05), no significant difference was observed between the groups in the following parameters: resonance classification (p=0.067); level of hypernasality (p=0.113), presence of nasal turbulence (p=0.179); presence of weak intraoral air pressure (p=0.152); presence of nasal air emission (p=0.369), and speech understandability (p=0.113). The groups differed with respect to presence of compensatory articulation disorders (p=0.020), with the LIG presenting higher occurrence of altered phonemes. It was possible to assess the general profile and speech characteristics of the study participants. Patients submitted to early primary palatoplasty present better speech profile.

One-Stage Primary Palatoplasty in Non-Syndromic Isolated Cleft Palate - Surgical Technique and Morbidity Evaluation

One-Stage Primary Palatoplasty in Non-Syndromic Isolated Cleft Palate - Surgical Technique and Morbidity Evaluation

Evaluation of changes in sleep breathing patterns after primary palatoplasty in cleft children

Introduction: There is a need to more clearly understand the characteristics of breathing patterns in children with cleft palate inthe first year of life, as there is little data available to guide current practice. Pierre Robin patients are known to have a higher incidence, however we hypothesised sleep breathing disturbance is not confined to this sub-group of cleft patient.Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of sleep disordered breathing patterns in a cohort of infants with oronasal clefts (cleft palate with or without cleft lip) to describe the spectrum of sleep breathing patterns both pre and post palate repair. Sleep breathing studies were performed pre- and post-operatively in sequential infants referred to a regional cleft lip andpalate unit. Results of sleep breathing studies were analysed according to American Academy of Sleep Medicine scoring guidelines and correlated with clinical history and details of peri-operative respiratory compromise. The degree of sleep disordered breathingwas characterised using desaturation indices (number of desaturations from baseline SpO2 of &gt;=4%, per hour).Results: Thirty-nine infants were included in this study, twenty-five female and fourteen male. Twelve had isolated Cleft Palate aspart of an associated syndrome. Patients were categorised into Isolated Cleft Palate, Isolated Cleft Palate in the context of Pierre Robin Sequence, and those with Cleft Lip and Palate. All groups demonstrated some degree of sleep breathing abnormality. Not unsurprisingly the eight infants with Pierre Robin Sequence had a significantly higher desaturation index before surgicalintervention (p=0.043), and were more likely to require a pre-operative airway intervention (p=0.009). Palate repair in this group did not alter the relative distribution of patients in each severity category of sleep disorder breathing. Surgical repair ofthe secondary palate in the remaining children was associated with some improvement but by no means complete resolution of their sleep disordered breathing patterns.Conclusions: We conclude that sleep breathing disturbance is not confined to Pierre Robin patients alone and all cleft palate patients should undergo pre-operative and post-operative sleep breathing analysis.

Size of Velopharyngeal Structures After Primary Palatoplasty.

To describe and compare measures of velar length, velar thickness, and depth of the nasopharynx between two groups of patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction after primary palatoplasty: one received the modified Langenbeck procedure and the other the Furlow procedure. Comparative study involving a convenience sample of videofluoroscopic films established prospectively. Surgeries and videofluoroscopic assessments were conducted at a craniofacial center. Exams from 90 participants were used: 27 (30%) operated with Furlow and 63 (70%) with Langenbeck. Three speech-language pathologists (SLPs) traced the images of the velopharyngeal port to determine the measures of interest. Intrajudge agreement for the SLPs ranged between 0.85 and 0.53, while interjudge agreement ranged between 0.44 and 0.51. The overall measure of velar length was significantly larger (P = .042) for the Furlow group (mean = 26.5) than the Langenbeck group (mean = 24.2 mm). There was no significant difference in velar thickness or depth of the nasopharynx between the two procedures. Although no significant difference was found between the current findings and Subtelny's norms for length, thickness, and depth, the patients presented with an overall depth:length ratio (0.89) significantly greater than Subtelny' ratio (P = .025). The findings of this study confirmed the hypothesis that patients who underwent surgery with the Furlow technique may present with significantly longer velums than patients who underwent surgery with the Langenbeck procedure. Information regarding velopharyngeal morphology was predictive of velopharyngeal dysfunction for speech for 80% of the participants and can be useful in documenting outcome of treatment.

Incidence of Secondary Surgery after Modified Furlow Palatoplasty: A 20-Year Single-Surgeon Case Series.

Objective To determine the occurrence of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) requiring surgery and fistula repair after primary palatoplasty using a "modified" Furlow technique. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Academic multidisciplinary cleft and craniofacial center. Subjects and Methods Children younger than 18 years at presentation, with unrepaired cleft palate, with or without cleft lip, including submucous clefts, who underwent palatoplasty were included. No cleft patients having primary repair were excluded. All operations were conducted by a single surgeon from March 1994 through December 2013. Charts were reviewed for demographics, cleft type, genetic syndrome, operations performed, and complications, including VPI and oronasal fistula. Results In total, 312 consecutive patients underwent primary palatoplasty (160 [51.3%] male) with a median age of repair of 0.95 (range, 0.47-17.6) years and followed for 6.49 (range, 4.0-20.2) years. Robin sequence was diagnosed in 109 (34.9%), 104 (33.4%) had alveolar clefts, and 27 (8.7%) had concomitant gingivoperiosteoplasty. A modified Furlow was performed in 289 (92.6%). Overall, 16 (5.1%) required subsequent pharyngeal flap for VPI, and 48 (15.4%) required oronasal fistula repair. Veau class II had higher pharyngeal flap rates ( P = .033). Fistula repair was lower in Veau I ( P < .001) but higher in Veau II ( P < .001) and IV ( P = .002). Older age ( P = .034) and Robin sequence ( P = .017) were associated with higher rates of oronasal fistula repair. Conclusions The modified Furlow palatoplasty yields acceptable rates of secondary surgery for VPI without selection based on cleft width. While our oronasal fistula repair rate is high, it is concordant with previous reports and is likely related to our rare use of lateral relaxing incisions.

Mucoperiosteal Flap Necrosis after Primary Palatoplasty in Patients with Cleft Palate.

BackgroundThe prevalence of flap necrosis after palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate. The prevalence of mucoperiosteal flap necrosis after palatoplasty remains unknown, and this complication is rare. This event is highly undesirable for both the patient and the surgeon. We present here a new scale to evaluate the degree of hypoplasia of the palate and identify patients with cleft palate at high risk for the development of this complication.MethodsIn this case series, a 20-year retrospective analysis (1994–2014) identified patients from our records (medical records and screening day registries) with nonsyndromic cleft palate who underwent operations at 3 centers. All of these patients underwent operations using 2-flap palatoplasty and also underwent a physical examination with photographs and documentation of the presence of palatal flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty.ResultsPalatal flap necrosis was observed in 4 cases out of 1,174 palatoplasties performed at these centers. The observed prevalence of palatal flap necrosis in these groups was 0.34%.ConclusionsThe prevalence of flap necrosis can be reduced by careful preoperative planning, and prevention is possible. The scale proposed here may help to prevent this complication; however, further studies are necessary to validate its utility.

Two-phase orthodontic treatment in a unilateral cleft lip and palate patient with 1-year follow-up results

Treatment of a patient with cleft lip and palate can be challenging. A 10-year and 10-month-old girl presented with uneven and crowded teeth. She had unilateral cleft lip and palate on left side for which she had undergone primary lip repair and palatoplasty when she was younger. On examination, she had concave facial appearance, crossbite of upper arch with reverse overjet of 2 mm, wits appraisal of 6 mm and impacted 23. She was treated with two-phase orthodontic treatment; growth modification appliances followed by fixed mechanotherapy. Total treatment time was 5 years. 1-year follow-up shows that results have been stable with good facial aesthetics and functional occlusion.

Risk factors leading to mucoperiosteal flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patents with cleft palate

Background: Few studies have been published reporting risk factors for flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate. This complication is rare, and the event is a disaster for both the patient and the surgeon. This study was performed to explore the associations between different risk factors and the development of flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate.Methods: This is a case-control study. A 20 years retrospective analysis (1994–2015) of patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate was identified from medical records and screening day registries). Demographical and risk factor data were collected using a patient´s report, including information about age at surgery, gender, cleft palate type, and degree of severity. Odds ratios and 95% confident intervals were derived from logistic regression analysis.Results: All cases with diagnoses of flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty were included in the study (48 patients) and 156 controls were considered. In multivariate analysis, female sex, age (older than 15 years), cleft type (bilateral and incomplete), and severe cleft palate index were associated with significantly increased risk for flap necrosis.Conclusions: The findings suggest that female sex, older age, cleft type (bilateral and incomplete), and severe cleft palatal index may be associated with the development of flap necrosis after primary palatoplasty in patients with cleft palate.

Effect of Relaxing Incisions on the Maxillary Growth after Primary Unilateral Cleft Palate Repair in Mild and Moderate Cases: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the use of relaxing incisions and maxillary growth disturbance after primary palatoplasty in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.Methods:This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial study with ethical committee approval between 2 groups of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate who were operated on using the two-flap and one-flap techniques from 2008 to 2011. Two groups of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were operated on using the mentioned techniques by the Outreach Surgical Center Program Lima since 2008. Data collection was accomplished by evaluation of maxillary arch dimensions and dental arch relationships (scored using the 5-year-olds’ index).Results:The mean score for the 5-year-olds’ index was 2.57 for two-flap technique and 2.80 for one-flap technique without statistical significant differences (P = 0.71). Our comparative study did not find statistically significant differences in maxillary arch dimensions between the studied techniques for unilateral cleft palate repair. Good levels of agreement were observed according to the κ statistics.Conclusions:The results arising from this clinical trial do not provide statistical evidence that one technique let us obtain better maxillary development than the other at 5 years. The use of relaxing incisions was not associated with maxillary growth impairment. A technique with limited relaxing incisions does not has better maxillary growth. Additional longer term study is necessary to confirm this preliminary report.

Musculomucosal Flap: A Technique for Correction of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency by Palate Lengthening

ABSTRACTA small but significant percentage of patients have inadequate velopharyngeal closure, or secondary velopharyngeal incompetence, following primary palatoplasty. The use of the buccinator musculomucosal (MM) flap has been described for both primary palate repair with lengthening and secondary palate lengthening for the correction of insufficient velopharyngeal closure. The MM flap was first described in 1969 for the primary repair of a wide cleft palate by Mukherji, and it was Bozola et al in 1989 who first formally described it and gave first description of its anatomy. The first report on its use to lengthen the palate in secondary velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) was published by Hill et al in 1999. This case report presents a patient who had correction of secondary velopharyngeal incompetence using bilateral buccinator MM flaps used as a sandwich and also gives a brief review of the literature regarding its application in cases of secondary VPI.How to cite this articleDeshmukh MM, Deshpande G. Musculomucosal Flap: A Technique for Correction of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency by Palate Lengthening. J Contemp Dent 2017;7(3):174-177.