Vancouver, B.C. (British Columbia) Orthodontist Partners Angelina Y.C. Loo & Edwin H.K. Yen

What Do We, As Parents, Have To Do?

Clean the appliance and palate at least once per day.
Change the lip tape several times a day making sure to keep pressure on the lip and underlying tissue.
Change the base tape and steristrips as needed. The base tape can be left on for up to a week before changing it. This protects the cheeks from the more frequent changing of the lip tape and steristrips.

Care of the Plate

After feeding, or at least once a day, remove the plate and rinse it in cool water. You may also hold the plate in the palm of your hand and use a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush the plate. Remember to rinse the plate well with water to remove the taste of the toothpaste.

The plate must be treated with care. Since the plate is made of plastic, please do not:

boil or heat the plate in any way - it will distort;
put it in your pocket or drop it - it will get broken;
wrap it in tissue or a napkin - someone will throw it out;
leave it lying around - pets and children are very curious.

The safest place for the plate is in your baby’s mouth. When you need to take it out, please put it in the case provided. Your name, address and phone number should be clearly marked on the case.

Another very important point to remember is that if the plate is not worn for long periods, the mouth can change slightly and the plate will no longer fit. Therefore, please try to keep the plate in most of the time and call your orthodontist to have the plate checked if you are having significant problems.

What's Next

Your baby's lip will be repaired by a plastic surgeon; with some exceptions, the surgery usually takes place at approximately 3-4 months of age. The day before your baby’s surgery, clean the plate and mouth of any denture adhesive, and reinsert the plate free of the adhesive. Dr. Loo also removes the nasal stent the day before the lip surgery, leaving the original plate.

When the lip has been repaired, taping usually stops permanently and the plate may be removed temporarily while the lip heals. If the plate is not in your baby’s mouth after the surgery, keep the plate in a safe place and leave it out until your plastic surgeon recommends you start 24-hour-a-day wear again. If the plate is in your baby’s mouth after the surgery, leave it in place for 7-10 days before you remove it to clean. Then return to 24-hour-a-day wear with more frequent cleanings.

This second phase of presurgical orthopedics is directed at encouraging the roof of the mouth to close naturally as much as possible prior to the palate repair surgery at 9 to 12 months. During this second phase of presurgical orthopedics, the plate should again be worn 24 hours per day and should be checked every 2 months or as recommended by Dr. Loo.

If you find the plate is not staying in place after the lip surgery, even with denture adhesive, call Dr. Loo and make an appointment to have the plate adjusted or possibly remade.