The orthodontic management of patients with cleft lip and palate: from birth to the late mixed dentition.

This is the first of two papers outlining the orthodontic management of patients with cleft lip and palate. This paper will review orthodontic input into children with cleft lip and palate from birth to the late mixed dentition before definitive orthodontics. It will emphasise the importance of timing in alveolar bone grafting, the role of the general dental practitioner and the impact of timing on definitive orthodontic outcome.