Early maxillary alignment of unilateral cleft lip and palate using beta-titanium wire.

The aim of this article is to describe early maxillary alignment in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate using a new orthopedic appliance incorporating beta-titanium wire. The new orthopedic appliance was made with acrylic resin and a spring-shaped beta-titanium wire, and the appliance was fixed onto the hard palate with microscrews under general anesthesia for approximately 1 month. At the end of treatment, both the major and minor segments rotated and moved into a suitable maxillary arch form by the special property of shape memory alloy, resulting in alignment of the cleft palate gap and satisfactory reconstruction of the maxillary arch.