Pressure-molded Modified Feeding Plate for Cleft Palate in a Two-month-old Infant: A Case Report

JOURNAL TITLE: Journal of Health Sciences & Research

Author
1. Valentina A Fernandes
2. Ashwini V Poojary
3. Basappa Nadig
4. Hombesh M Neelakantappa
5. Shivani Bellal
ISSN
2229-3655
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10042-1097
Volume
11
Issue
2
Publishing Year
2020
Pages
4
Author Affiliations
    1. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India
    1. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India
    1. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India
    1. Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India
    1. Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, College of Dental Sciences, Davanagere, Karnataka. India
  • Article keywords

    Abstract

    Aim and objective: This article describes a pressure-molded modified feeding plate with retentive arms for retention in a 2-month-old infant with a cleft palate (uvula, soft palate, and secondary hard palate). The main goal of this technique was to cater the infant with a properly functioning feeding plate, thereby reducing the anxiety of the parents related to nasal regurgitation and the infant not gaining weight. Background: Cleft palate has anatomical and morphological alterations correlated with difficulty in suckling, presence of nasal regurgitation while feeding, deficiency in facial growth, dental as well as aesthetic problems, and velopharyngeal inadequacy leading to not only speech and hearing defects, but also psychological complications. Case description: The present case reports a 2-month-old, female infant diagnosed with cleft palate (Veau's class II) with a chief complaint of having difficulty while suckling milk and nasal regurgitation while feeding. Thus, a pressure-molded modified feeding plate with retentive arms was devised with the help of Biostar using pressure molding technique to help feed the infant and gain sufficient weight that would be a must to undergo the cleft palate reconstructive surgery. Conclusion: The modified feeding plate with retentive arms showed high efficiency in feeding the infant and presented a high level of acceptance by both the parents and the infant. This also improved the health status of the infant, which was a requirement for rehabilitation. Clinical significance: The pressure-molded modified feeding plate with retentive arms was a favorable feeding option as it had better retention and was much more stable in the infant's oral cavity. Moreover, it created a separation between the oral and nasal cavities and thus helped in creating a negative intraoral pressure during suckling, thereby effectively sealing the cleft palate.

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