Comparison of Early Onset Nasoalveolar Molding With Patients Who Presented for Molding Up to 1 Year of Age.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in infants with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate presenting before and after 6 months of age and justify its use in older infants presenting for treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The university NAM protocol was followed for 150 patients who were included in the study. NAM was performed by 1 month of age (group I, n = 50), at 1 to 6 months of age (group II, n = 50), and at 6 months to 1 year of age (group III, n = 50). Seven linear anthropometric measurements were compared using dentofacial models. RESULTS: Statistical analysis before and after NAM showed that group I had 83, 176, 69, and 142% improvement in intersegment distance, nasal height, nasal dome height, and columella height, respectively. Group II had 53, 44, 30, and 67% improvement. Group III had 45, 38, 28, and 62% improvement. CONCLUSION: Patients in all 3 groups showed improvement with the NAM protocol. Although patients who presented for treatment before 1 month of age benefited the most, those who presented at 6 months to 1 year of age benefited as much from NAM as those who presented at 1 to 6 months, thus validating its use in these patients.