Objective: To determine the effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) on nasal airway architecture.
Design: Retrospective case-control study of patients with unilateral cleft lip treated with NAM vs without NAM.
Setting: Tertiary referral center specializing in cleft and craniofacial care. Patients, Participants, and Interventions: Thirty-six patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and alveolus: 19 with NAM therapy and 17 without NAM therapy.
Main outcome measures: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were compared in multiple coronal sections and were evaluated for linear and angular septal deviation, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and linear and 2-dimensional airway area.
Results: There were no significant differences in linear or angular septal deviation, inferior turbinate area, linear stenosis, or airway area between NAM- and non-NAM-treated patients.
Conclusions: NAM effectively molds the external nasal cartilage and structures but may have limited effects on internal nasal structures.
Keywords: nasal airway; nasal anatomy; nasoalveolar molding; presurgical infant orthopedics.