Impact of a passive palatal plate on orofacial functions in children with cleft lip and palate: a systematic review.

Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) are common malformations that affect the structure of the face and oral cavity, requiring multidisciplinary care. Newborns with CL/P face functional difficulties related to feeding, speech, breathing, and craniofacial growth. The use of palatal plates (PP) aims to improve these functions. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of PP in newborns with CL/P. Although existing studies showed varied results, it appears that PP may influence maxillary growth and contribute to the improvement of orofacial functions such as feeding, speech, and language development. However, further research is needed to evaluate their long-term effectiveness on larger samples to obtain more reliable results. It is crucial for speech therapists to be informed of the potential benefits and limitations of PP to ensure early and effective management of children with CL/P. This review highlights the importance of ongoing research to develop evidence-based approaches and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.