A New Era in Pre-Surgical Palate Care with the PLANA System
For parents of newborns, life is already a stressful and unsure time. And if you have a child born with a cleft lip and palate, that time can feel even more overwhelming as you weigh repair options. Traditional methods often involve complex, custom-made appliances that require frequent office visits. This can make the first weeks and months of your child’s life even more stressful.
Dr. Michael Stosich is pleased to introduce the PLANA system into his practice. This state-of-the-art, non-invasive approach uses Nasoalveolar Molding to simplify the pre-surgical process. Not only that, but it also offers much better results.
What is the PLANA system?
PLANA stands for presurgical lip, alveolus, and nose approximation. The PLANA system is, on its face, just a modern evolution of the traditional NAM therapy. But rather than relying on bulky acrylic plates fitted inside the mouth, PLANA uses a more innovative approach:
- NoseAlign is a prefabricated medical-grade silicone device that gently supports and shapes the nasal cartilage and the tissue between the nostrils (known as the columella).
- LipAlign is medical adhesive tape that works together with NoseAlign to bring the separated lip and gum segments closer together.
A baby’s tissues are the most pliable in the first few weeks of life, when this treatment is ideal to begin. Dr. Stosich is able to mold the facial structures to create better symmetry prior to the first surgery.
Why PLANA
Dr. Stosich is a leader in craniofacial orthodontics and focuses on scientifically-backed treatments that will provide the best outcomes for his families. The PLANA system helps transform a difficult process into a more manageable experience with effective outcomes.
PLANA provides patients and their families with:
Greater comfort
Traditional NAM appliances are bulky. They can interfere with a baby’s feeding ability and irritate the roof of the mouth. The PLANA system is made of soft silicone, and the external taping is much less invasive. The lightweight material used allows your baby to sleep, feed, and even smile with ease.
Better compliance and increased convenience
The NoseAlign device is prefabricated and the LipAlign tape is very user-friendly. This makes the at-home care much easier for parents. Additionally, the PLANA system streamlines the process, requiring fewer appointments, thereby saving you time. The system is designed for ease of use, so caregivers can stay consistent with Dr. Stosich’s treatment protocol.
Optimal surgical results
The goal of any pre-surgical orthopedic treatment should always be to make any eventual surgery more successful. PLANA offers multiple surgical advantages:
- When the lip segments can be brought closer together, there is less tension on the surgical site, which leads to minimal scarring.
- PLANA shapes the nose and aligns the alveolus, giving the surgeon a better foundation for repair.
- Children who use the PLANA system prior to surgery require fewer follow-up surgeries later in life.
Is PLANA right for your family?
The ideal time to begin PLANA treatment is during the first week or two of life. Dr. Stosich works closely with his families to determine the ideal timeline for treatment. This ensures your child is prepared for their primary repair.
Dr. Stosich is a leader in patient care who is not only a board-certified orthodontist, but is the Director of Orthodontics at the University of Chicago and Comer Children’s Hospital. He has treated some of the most complex cases in the field, and has dedicated his life to ensuring his patients have access to the very best treatment available.
If you would like to learn more about how the PLANA system can help your child, call Dr. Stosich today at 847-860-6211.