Digital technology in prosthetic treatment for cleft lip

A study published in Cureus aimed to demonstrate the clinical application and advantages of digital technology in the fabrication of a removable prosthesis for a patient with cleft lip and palate. 

A 59-year-old woman with a congenital cleft defect was treated using advanced digital tools including an intraoral scanner, model scanner, 3D printer and milling machine. The technique incorporated novel steps such as a digital altered cast technique and socket splicing method, allowing for improved functional adaptation and aesthetic integration by referencing 3D facial scans. This digital approach "eliminated the need for traditional impression materials, reduced the number of clinical visits and adjustment sessions, and contributed to enhanced patient safety and satisfaction," according to the study. 

The prosthesis was successfully and safely fabricated, avoiding the risk of impaction, mis-swallowing and aspiration of impression material. By scanning the perioral facial region, aesthetic rehabilitation was also achieved, the study noted, and the application of digital technology in prosthetic dental treatment for patients with cleft lip and palate offers distinct advantages. 

Read more: Cureus 

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