Cleft lip and palate is a congenital condition requiring multidisciplinary care from birth through adolescence. AQUA provides the orthodontic portion of this care under Dr. Mohamed Bamashmous: nasoalveolar molding (NAM) plates for newborns, mixed-dentition orthodontics for children (ages 7–12), pre-surgical orthodontics for adolescents, and we coordinate with oral-maxillofacial surgery and Jeddah-area craniofacial centers for a comprehensive plan.
Stage 1 (0–18 months): NAM feeding plates to bring lip-and-palate segments closer before surgical lip repair. Stage 2 (5–9 years): monitoring upper-jaw growth, preparing for palatal repair if needed. Stage 3 (8–12 years): mixed-dentition orthodontics to expand the upper jaw and align anterior teeth before alveolar bone graft. Stage 4 (14–18 years): final orthodontics to align full occlusion, sometimes with jaw surgery if needed.
Cleft care isn't one doctor's job — it requires collaboration between: oral-maxillofacial surgeon (lip & palate repair, bone graft), orthodontist (our stage), prosthodontist (final rehabilitation), ENT (for hearing-related complications), speech therapist, and pediatric dentist. Dr. Laila Bamashmous coordinates with surgical teams in Jeddah to ensure orthodontic intervention timing aligns with surgical stages.
Cleft orthodontic care is a medically necessary, non-elective treatment — most private insurance plans in Saudi Arabia cover 70–100% of the cost with a medical report. For cases without insurance, we work with Saudi cleft-support organizations to find solutions. We provide an initial evaluation visit for all cleft cases referred through certified surgical teams.