Cinefluorography with image intensification as an aid in treatment planning for some cleft lip and/or cleft palate cases

Because of different training and techniques, one is prone to place emphasis on treatment in a particular field, thereby producing a dilemma in the minds of the professional personnel as well as the patient. We hope to avoid some of the attendant confusion which only adds to the trauma already present in the patient and his family. The importance of a long-range view of the whole cleft palate problem is stressed. By the use of cinefluorography with image intensification, together with the sound spectroscope, we can study the physiologic action of the pharyngeal muscles, soft palate, tongue, lips, etc., in producing normal specch; by comparison with the norm we are able to determine and establish a better diagnosis for the treatment plan in the postoperative case where speech is poor and the velopharyngeal sphincter action is faulty. (We feel that in the future the cine-fluoroscope with image intensification will be used effectively in constructing teaching films of other anatomic parts in motion of interest to orthodontists. We recently were told that we will receive a grant from the Ford Foundation. With funds from that grant, we plan to construct a series of films for teaching purposes. Dr. Lester Burket, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, has consented to become chairman of the advisory committee in this effort.)