Comprehensive Cleft Care in Infants: Integrating Pre/Post Surgical Orthopedics with the Rhinoplasty Appliance System (RAS)

Comprehensive Cleft Care in Infants: Integrating Pre/Post Surgical Orthopedics with the Rhinoplasty Appliance System (RAS) is organized by Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (NSUCDM) and will be held from Nov 13 - 14, 2026 at HPD Annex, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America.

Course Description:
Join us for an intensive, hands-on educational experience focused on the comprehensive, integrated management of patients with cleft lip and palate. This 2-day course is designed for clinicians seeking to enhance their skills in pre- and post-surgical care through evidence-based and innovative techniques that prioritize functional outcomes. This program will include the new generation of presurgical orthopedics with the RAS (Rhinoplasty Appliance System).

Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the new era of presurgical orthopedic protocols and post-surgical interventions, with a strong emphasis on functional management to improve breathing, feeding, and overall orofacial development, while also optimizing aesthetic results. The course highlights a holistic approach that integrates structure and function as key components of successful cleft care.

Through live demonstrations, interactive workshops, and case-based discussions led by experienced specialists, attendees will develop practical skills that can be directly applied in clinical practice. Emphasis will be placed on techniques that not only improve nasal symmetry and guide maxillary growth but also enhance airway function, promote proper muscular balance, and support long-term stability.

Participants will also explore interdisciplinary treatment planning, understanding how early orthopedic interventions influence surgical outcomes and long-term patient quality of life. Special focus will be given to efficient, reproducible protocols that support functional rehabilitation alongside aesthetic correction.

Whether you are new to cleft care or looking to refine your current approach, this course offers valuable insights, hands-on training, and the opportunity to connect with a community of professionals dedicated to advancing cleft treatment through integral, functional, and patient-centered care.

Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of integral and functional management in patients with cleft lip and palate, emphasizing the relationship between structure and function.
• Apply modern presurgical orthopedic techniques to improve nasal symmetry and maxillary alignment.
• Recognize the importance of early interventions in enhancing breathing, feeding, and orofacial function.
• Design and fabricate unilateral and bilateral maxillary plates as part of an integral treatment approach for patients with cleft lip and palate.
• Implement post-surgical orthopedic strategies that support functional rehabilitation and long-term stability.
• Analyze the impact of orthopedic treatment on airway development and muscular balance.
• Develop individualized treatment plans using an interdisciplinary approach for optimal patient outcomes.
• Perform key clinical procedures through hands-on training and translate them into daily practice.
• Identify reproducible and efficient protocols that integrate functional and aesthetic goals.
• Evaluate clinical cases and make evidence-based decisions to improve overall quality of life for patients.