FOLLOW-UP OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC AND CEPHALOMETRIC FINDINGS IN PATIENTSWITH UNILATERAL CLEFT-LIP AND PALATE AFTER 15 MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS WEARING OF A SPECIAL REMOVABLE APPLIANCE

A 15-month follow-up study was conducted on 13 children with unilatera l cleft lip and palate, The patients presented with short upper lip, a bnormal lip seal, and maxillary retrusion, All had undergone surgery i n childhood, Cephalometric and electromyographic measurements were mad e prior to the start of treatment, 4 months into treatment, and after 15 months of continuous wear of a special removable appliance, The cep halometric measurements on paired comparison showed major improvement in both the sagittal maxillary and dentoalveolar positions, The electr omyographic activity of the superior orbicularis oris muscle demonstra ted no significant changes over the treatment period. Improvement in t he sagittal maxillary and dentoalveolar positions seems to suggest tha t the elimination of the restrictive effect of the superior orbiculari s oris muscle is a good therapeutic approach to promote normal growth potential in children with cleft lip and palate.