[Secondary prevention of mesial bite in infants with maxillary clefts by correcting early deciduous prenormal incisors].

A new application of the inclined plane principle for the management of mesial bite in a child aged 14 months is reported. It was of interest to note that, inspite of the presence of Robin's sequence associated with cleft palate and postnormal mandible and inspite of posteriorly directed stresses on the mandible generated by sucking, the deciduous incisors were prenormal at the very time of their eruption. In light of the growth arresting effect of palatal clefts the authors emphasize the importance of regular orthodontic care in cleft patients beyond early orthodontic treatment throughout dental development in order to prevent the occurrence of developmental anomalies.