Conservative orthodontic primary care of four newborns with the Pierre-Robin sequence triad

Abstract

Newborns with Pierre-Robin sequence often suffer from serious or even life-threatening obstructions in the respiratory tract resulting from anatomic malformations (micrognathia, glossoptosis and potentially a median cleft palate). Such babies require immediate effective therapeutic measures. Our case descriptions of four babies with the typical triad illustrate the application of a modified upper plate with an individually-adjustable pharyngeal spur. Precise and individually-modifiable adaptation of the plate's pharyngeal parts--depending on the developmental stage--permit the narrow airway to be opened, which then affects the tongue's position and the sagittal position of the mandible.