Objective: To describe a novel orthodontic appliance to prevent pedicle trauma in patients undergoing double-opposing buccal flap surgery for secondary palatal lengthening.
Design: Case series.
Setting: Cleft and craniofacial clinic, Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
Patients, participants: Four patients undergoing double-opposing buccal flap surgery for repair of velopharyngeal insufficiency.
Interventions: Patients were fitted with the device, which consists of a lower lingual holding arch with acrylic bite blocks.
Main outcome measure: Presence of pedicle trauma postsurgery and tolerability of the device.
Results: The appliance was well tolerated in all 4 patients and no biting trauma to the pedicles was observed.
Conclusions: A reliable appliance has been developed to prevent biting trauma to the pedicles in patients undergoing double-opposing buccal flap surgery in the permanent dentition stage.
Keywords: buccal flap; cleft lip/palate; orthodontic device; velopharyngeal insufficiency.