Congenital cleft lip and palate, commonly known as "rabbit lip", is one of the most common congenital deformities in oral and maxillofacial region. Although the surgical methods are constantly improving, the nutation after cleft lip and palate repair has always troubled patients and brought many inconveniences to life, work and social life.

The so-called "dentate mouth", clinically called maxillary retraction, is largely caused by the underdevelopment of the maxilla. The reasons are as follows: after the cleft lip is repaired, the tension of the lip muscles is large, just like a wall in front of the jaw, exerting pressure on it to limit its forward growth; After cleft palate surgery, scar contracture produces a force opposite to the growth direction of maxilla, and the two forces do not give way to each other like tug-of-war, which makes the length and width of maxilla underdeveloped. The anterior teeth of patients with cleft lip and palate are closed after operation, that is, the lower anterior teeth cover the upper anterior teeth, which hinders the forward movement of the upper anterior teeth and the growth and development of the maxilla, resulting in severe retraction of the maxilla, narrow maxillary arch, uneven dentition and mandibular protrusion.

Now through orthognathic treatment and orthodontic treatment before and after operation, such patients can still have normal appearance. The so-called orthognathic treatment after cleft lip and palate surgery is to move the maxilla forward through surgery on the premise that the teeth are arranged neatly and vertically through orthodontics, so that the skin and soft tissue of the upper lip can be "propped up" and patients wearing dentures can also have a full and even beautiful upper lip. It should be noted that different patients with cleft lip and palate have different conditions, and it is necessary to make the most reasonable treatment plan through careful examination in order to achieve the ideal surgical effect. (Yuan Guofang)