Early Prosthetic Intervention Using a Feeding Obturator in a Newborn with Soft Palate Cleft: A Case Report

Abstract

Cleft palate is a congenital craniofacial anomaly that disrupts the separation between the oral and nasal cavities, resulting in significant feeding difficulties during the neonatal period. In infants, the inability to generate adequate negative pressure for suckling often leads to poor weight gain, nasal regurgitation, and increased risk of aspiration. Early prosthetic intervention in the form of a feeding obturator provides functional separation of the cavities, thereby improving feeding efficiency and supporting overall growth until surgical correction is possible.

This case report describes the prosthetic management of a 4-day-old neonate diagnosed with an isolated cleft of the soft palate. A feeding obturator was fabricated using a safe neonatal impression technique and heat-cured acrylic resin. The appliance significantly improved suckling and eliminated nasal regurgitation during feeding. Early intervention with a feeding obturator can serve as an effective temporary measure to enhance feeding, reduce complications, and provide essential support to the infant and caregivers prior to definitive palatal repair.