Planning and performing orthognathic surgery and in patients with cleft lip and palate

Patients with cleft lip and palate often exhibit jaw deformity such as class III malocclusion, anterior open bite and multidimensional asymmetry through the process of growth. These deformities are caused by maxillary hypoplasia secondary to primary surgery for cleft palate, which have various related problems including contraction of maxillary width, collapse of the maxillary lesser segment, inclination of upper incisors etc. Considering these specificities of cleft jaw deformities, we should push forward treatment to acquire both stable good occlusion and good profile keeping relapse to a minimum. Toward this end, it is important to maintain close cooperation with orthodontists.