Evaluation of the efficiency in two different types of feeding appliances in unilateral cleft lip and palate neonates

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of using a heat-cured acrylic feeding appliance in comparison with soft vinyl feeding appliances in neonates with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Patients and methods Twelve nonsyndromic newborn infants with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate were included in this study. The infants received a soft vinyl-feeding appliance from day 1 after birth until 2 weeks of age; the same infants received the heat-cured acrylic feeding appliance. With the same amount of milk (30 ml), the time taken by the infant to bottle feed was registered and recorded at two different situations; after waking up and at mid-day. The data were collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Results There was a statistically significant difference between the use of the heat-cured appliances and the soft vinyl appliances in the rehabilitation of neonates with nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate regarding the time taken to feed a fixed amount of milk (30 ml) (P < 0.05). Conclusions The use of the heat-cured acrylic feeding appliance was more efficient regarding the time of feeding. On the other hand, parents preferred the soft vinyl feeding appliance for its ease of use.