If you or your child has a cleft lip or palate, you know it’s not just about looks—it can affect everything from eating to speaking. But here’s the good news: orthodontics plays a huge role in helping overcome those challenges. Dr. Moffett at Moffett & Walley Orthodontics works closely with cleft care teams to help patients feel more confident and comfortable as they move through treatment. Let’s talk about how orthodontics can make a difference.
How Orthodontics Fits into Cleft Lip and Palate Care
Orthodontics is a game-changer when it comes to cleft lip and palate treatment. It bridges the gap between surgical corrections and long-term functionality, creating opportunities for better speech, chewing, and overall confidence. Dr. Moffett works hand-in-hand with each patient to create a thoughtful, step-by-step approach that supports growth and adapts to individual needs. Here’s how orthodontics becomes part of the bigger picture:
- Prepping for Surgery: Expanders or braces can help position teeth and jaws, making surgical procedures more effective and streamlined.
- Growing Smiles: As children grow, orthodontic treatment keeps development on track, minimizing challenges and building a strong foundation for the future.
- Everyday Benefits: Beyond aesthetics, orthodontics supports better speech clarity and more comfortable eating, improving daily life in practical ways.
By making orthodontics a part of the plan, Dr. Moffett ensures that progress feels manageable and rewarding at every step. Now, let’s explore some of the specialized tools and techniques used in the treatment for cleft lip and palate.
Specialized Tools and Techniques for Cleft Treatment
Orthodontics for cleft lip and palate goes beyond traditional braces—it involves advanced tools and techniques tailored to the unique needs of each patient. Dr. Moffett uses a combination of expertise and innovation to make treatment as effective and seamless as possible.
- Expanders and Palatal Devices: These are often used to widen the upper jaw, creating space and improving alignment before surgery.
- Custom Metal or Clear Braces: Braces help guide teeth into better positions over time, ensuring function and aesthetics work in harmony.
- Invisalign Clear Aligners: For some cases, clear aligners provide a flexible, less visible
- X-ray Evaluation: Dr. Moffett uses detailed X-ray images to assess tooth positioning, jaw development, and overall oral structure.
By combining the right tools with personalized care, treatment is designed to meet each patient where they are. With the groundwork laid, the focus shifts to making progress feel manageable over time. Let’s take a closer look at the step-by-step nature of cleft treatment and how orthodontics evolves with you.
Orthodontic Treatment Through Different Stages
Treatment for a cleft lip or palate is a process that unfolds over time. Dr. Moffett at Moffett & Walley Orthodontics is involved at every stage and makes sure teeth shift into the right spots and sets up the best foundation for future care. Early treatment can create space for incoming adult teeth, while later adjustments help refine the bite as teens grow.
Nasoalveolar Molding “NAM” (Birth to 9 months)
- This is done soon after birth on infants with various forms of cleft lip and/or palate.
- A custom-fit appliance is used to help approximate both the lip & alveolar ridge segments & to help re-shape the nose on the cleft side.
- Weekly appointments are done to adjust the appliance.
- This is coordinated with the craniofacial surgeon to help produce the best possible surgical outcome.
- This is done prior to the child’s first surgery, which is done at approx 6-9 months of age.
Early Childhood (Ages 6-9)
- This is when early orthodontic intervention can begin.
- Expanders or braces may be used to create space for incoming teeth and support jaw development.
- Regular checkups help monitor growth and determine the best timing for future steps.
Pre-Teen and Teen Years (Ages 10-18)
- Braces or clear aligners may be used to straighten teeth and improve bite function.
- Coordination with other specialists, such as oral surgeons, helps ensure everything is progressing as planned.
Adulthood
- If any final refinements are needed, orthodontic care can help improve function and aesthetics for long-term results.
Each phase builds upon the last, ensuring the best outcome for speech, function, and appearance. Next, let’s look at how orthodontics improves daily life for those with a cleft lip or palate.
The Connection Between Orthodontics and Speech
In addition to shaping your smile, orthodontic treatment can also make speaking easier! For those born with a cleft lip or palate, the position of the teeth and jaw can affect how words are formed. That’s where Dr. Moffett at Moffett & Walley Orthodontics comes in, helping to create the right conditions for clear speech and improved communication. Here’s how orthodontics supports speech development:
Aligning Teeth for Clear Pronunciation
When teeth are in the right place, it’s easier to form sounds correctly. Misalignment can make it difficult to pronounce certain words, but braces or aligners help bring everything into better balance.
Improving Palate and Jaw Function
A well-aligned bite supports better airflow and tongue movement, which are essential for clear speech. Dr. Moffett customizes treatment to support natural speech patterns.
Enhancing the Benefits of Speech Therapy
When orthodontic care works alongside speech therapy, progress can happen more efficiently. Moffett & Walley Orthodontics collaborates with specialists when needed to provide comprehensive support for speech development.
As speech improves, so does confidence when talking, laughing, and expressing thoughts. Next, let’s take a look at what comes after treatment and how to maintain long-term results.
Life After Treatment
Reaching the final stage of cleft lip and palate treatment is a huge milestone, but orthodontic care doesn’t stop once braces or aligners come off. Dr. Moffett at Moffett & Walley Orthodontics helps patients maintain their results with long-term strategies that keep everything in place.
- Retainers: Wearing a retainer is key to keeping teeth from shifting after treatment.
- Regular Checkups: Routine visits help catch any small changes before they become bigger issues.
- Oral Health Maintenance: Consistent brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings support a healthy bite and smile.
Orthodontic care is a lasting commitment, and staying on track with follow-ups helps maintain the progress made during treatment. Consistent care and attention make it possible to enjoy a well-balanced, functional smile for years to come.
Stronger Smiles and Brighter Futures
A cleft lip or palate doesn’t have to define a smile! Dr. Moffett and the team at Moffett & Walley Orthodontics work alongside patients in Clinton and Madison to shape confident, functional smiles that last a lifetime. Schedule a free consultation today, and let’s keep that smile moving forward!