This article is expertly advised by Associate Professor, Dr. Lam Hoai Phuong, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery. Ho Chi Minh City, Vice President of Vietnam Dental and Maxillofacial Association, former Head of Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Lecturer of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Director of the American Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital. Thien.
Cleft lip and palate is a birth defect that affects not only a child's appearance, but also his or her ability to speak and socialize. With today's level of medical development, many advanced treatment methods have contributed to helping children overcome the problems of this deformity. This includes the installation of the NAM appliance (also known as the NAM jaw).
In developed countries, starting early treatment intervention in children with cleft lip and palate using the NAM appliance right from birth to reduce the severity of the cleft has existed for many years. In Vietnam, this method has only recently begun to be applied.
For children with cleft lip and palate, the NAM jaw helps the baby avoid choking on their nose while eating, making it easier to suck. When children are fitted and wear NAM jaws every day, the width of the cleft lip and jaw gap will be narrowed; The fact that children often push their tongue to widen the cleft palate will no longer exist. This will facilitate the convenience of future surgery, especially in terms of aesthetics. Therefore, being able to stutter in the NAM jaw is an extremely necessary task for the child's pre-operative period.
What are the benefits of N.A.M treatment and Tapping for children with cleft lip and palate?
N.A.M (Nasal Alveolar Molding) and Tapping are two commonly used treatment methods for cleft lip and palate today. Each method has its own benefits, bringing certain effectiveness in improving the condition of cleft lip and palate for children.
1. Benefits of N.A.M treatment and Tapping:
a) N.A.M
• Reduce the size of cleft lip: N.A.M uses N.A.M instruments designed specifically for each child to help narrow cleft lip, temporarily shape the lip, and facilitate the development of muscle tissue and jaw bone.
• Improved sucking function: N.A.M helps babies suck more effectively, reduces the risk of choking and helps babies gain weight better.
• Enhancing aesthetics: minimizing post-operative scarring. Helps pull lip tissues closer together, reducing scarring after cleft lip and palate surgery.
b) Tapping
• Supports N.A.M: Tapping paste can be used in combination with N.A.M to increase treatment effectiveness.
• Reduce the size of the cleft lip: Tapping helps pull the lip tissues closer together, reduces the size of the cleft lip, helps temporarily shape the lip, and creates favorable conditions for a favorable surgical period.
• Improved aesthetics: Tapping tape helps shape soft tissue, minimizing scar formation after surgery.
• Improve pronunciation: Improve lip muscle function. Tapping helps stimulate lip muscles to work, enhances children's mobility and pronunciation, and reduces lisp.
 ENG.png)
Images of pediatric patients examined and treated for unilateral cleft lip at My Thien Hospital
2. Choose a treatment method
Choosing the N.A.M treatment method or Tapping for children with cleft lip and palate needs to be done by an Oral and Maxillofacial Specialist based on many factors such as:
• Extent of cleft lip and palate
• Children's age
• Children's ability to cooperate
• Children's overall health
3. Issues to note
• N.A.M and Tapping are only supportive treatments, not a substitute for cleft lip and palate surgery
• The procedure should be performed by experienced Oral and Maxillofacial specialists. Parents need to coordinate closely with doctors to monitor and adjust treatment methods to suit their child's condition.
• Follow your doctor's instructions on how to use the N.A.M and apply the Tapping tape.
• Clean N.A.M tools and replace Tapping tape regularly according to instructions.
• Monitor your child's condition and have regular follow-up visits so the doctor can check and make adjustments.
4. New smile – New life
N.A.M treatment and Tapping paste are two effective treatment support methods for children with cleft lips. Early and correct application of these methods will help children quickly regain their innocence and confident smile and reintegrate into the community.
This article is for reference only and is not a substitute for medical advice. For specific advice on N.A.M treatment and Tapping for children with cleft lips, please contact the Dental and Maxillofacial Specialists at My Thien Hospital.
With the desire to bring maximum perfection to children, My Thien Hospital is a TRUSTED place to treat cleft lip and palate.
At My Thien Dental and Maxillofacial Specialty Hospital, the staff hopes that parents will always have enough necessary and useful knowledge to best care for their babies.
Please connect with My Thien to receive timely advice and treatment from doctors at the right stage and age to minimize the consequences caused by deformities. Parents who have questions that they would like the Doctors to answer directly, please contact via phone number (028) 6650 5188 or via Hotline 0915 22 66 03
