3D nasoalveolar moulding: A complete digital workflow model

Nasoalveolar moulding (NAM) is a paradigm shift from the presurgical orthopaedics used extensively over the past 20 years in infants with cleft lip and palate. It has been proposed that the gap between the clefted segments be filled up before surgical repair via presurgical nasoalveolar moulding. To attain the best practical and aesthetic results, it is a straightforward yet effective treatment that must be started at the appropriate age and time.
In order to enhance treatment outcomes, convenience of use, compliance, and cost-effectiveness, recent developments in NAM therapy have focused on implementing changes to the nasal stent or intraoral moulding plate. Specifically, 3D technology has been used to improve the efficiency of NAM device design and develop standardised, objective methods of determining progressive morphological changes during therapy. The article discusses various methods that use 3D printing technology to produce tangible components from a virtual therapeutic strategy. It also looks at how developments in computational methods and printing materials could open up novel opportunities for computer-assisted NAM therapy.