Craniofacial Treatment

Those who have experienced a traumatic injury or were born with a congenital disability may wish there was a way to correct their deformities. What some may not realize is that they can. Craniofacial disorders can be treated through surgeries performed by specialists to improve your quality of life and address potentially life-threatening conditions. Craniofacial treatments not only correct functional issues like problems with speech, breathing, and eating but can also enhance aesthetics, improving appearance and an individual’s self-confidence and quality of life.

If you’re considering craniofacial treatment, we can help you prepare and provide you with a thorough understanding of what to expect.

What is Craniofacial Disorder?

Craniofacial disorders are congenital musculoskeletal disorders that can be mild or severe and primarily affect the skull and facial bones. They are common in infants and children. Most affect the face or head, though some may also affect other body parts. These disorders are typically diagnosed with a clinical exam during the first few weeks or months of life.

There is no one cause for craniofacial anomalies. Many factors contribute to their development, such as genetics, environment, and folic acid deficiency. An anomaly may develop if your child receives a gene or combination of genes from one or both parents or if the genes change at conception. Exposures to certain drugs or chemicals may cause anomalies as well, and studies have shown that women who do not receive enough folic acid during pregnancy may have a greater chance of having a baby with a craniofacial disorder.

The Types of Craniofacial Anomalies

Craniofacial anomalies have symptoms that vary depending on the exact condition. The most common anomalies are cleft lips and palates, craniosynostosis, hemifacial microsomia, vascular malformation, and hemangioma; additional syndromes also affect the face, ears, eyes, or jaw. “Cleft” refers to a separation in the lip and palate, which could cause problems eating and speaking. Craniosynostosis is the premature closure of the soft spots in an infant’s skull, potentially leading to difficulties with speaking and communicating. Hemifacial microsomia is a condition in which the tissues on one side of the face are underdeveloped, causing an inability to chew. Vascular malformation refers to an abnormal growth composed of blood vessels. It could cause pain and problems with speech. Additionally, hemangioma is a benign tumor that causes a red birthmark but does not cause pain or other symptoms.

Signs of craniofacial problems that result in facial anomalies include:

Apert syndrome. Characterized by an abnormal head shape, small upper jaw, and fusion of the fingers and toes.
Brachycephaly. Characterized by the disproportionate shortness of the head caused by a premature fusing of the coronal suture.
Crouzon syndrome. Characterized by abnormalities in the skull and facial bones (Flat cheekbones and nose and short skull) caused by a fusing of both sides of the coronal suture.
Encephalocele. A condition characterized by a protrusion of the brain or its coverings through the skull.
Kleeblattschadel syndrome. Kleeblattschadel can be detected by abnormalities of the skull and facial bones caused by a premature fusing of almost all fibrous sutures.
Oxycephaly. Oxycephaly can be identified by abnormalities in the skull and facial bones that cause the top of the skull to be pointed or cone-shaped.
Pfeiffer syndrome. Characterized by abnormalities of the skull, hands, and feet, resulting in wide-set, bulging eyes, an underdeveloped upper jaw, and a beaked nose.
Pierre Robin syndrome. Characterized by abnormalities in the facial bones, resulting in a smaller-than-normal lower jaw or receding chin and causing difficulty breathing.
Plagiocephaly. Characterized by a flat spot on the sides or on the back of a baby’s head. Plagiocephaly can be caused by sleeping in the same position most of the time.
Saethre-Chotzen syndrome. Characterized by an unusually short or broad head. The eyes may be spaced wide apart, eyelids droopy, and fingers abnormally short and webbed.
Scaphocephaly. Characterized by a long, narrow head shape resulting from early fusion of the sagittal suture.
Torticollis. Characterized by a twisting of the neck that causes the head to rotate and tilt at an odd angle.
Trigonocephaly. Characterized by a triangular skull configuration caused by the premature fusion of the two halves of the frontal bones at the metopic suture.

Craniofacial dysplasia

Craniofacial dysplasia, also called craniofacial fibrous dysplasia, is a rare bone disease that causes the bones and face of the skull to soften and deform. It’s closely related to fibrous dysplasia, which affects any bone in the body, most likely the long bones in the legs and arms. It commonly appears in childhood between the ages of three and 15; boys are more often diagnosed than girls. Craniofacial dysplasia may cause facial features to shift or other symptoms such as:

Facial asymmetry
Misaligned teeth
Vision and hearing changes
Congestion
Pain or numbness
Bone weakness in other body parts

Craniofacial treatment process

Facial asymmetry
Misaligned teeth
Vision and hearing changes
Congestion
Pain or numbness
Bone weakness in other body parts

Craniofacial treatment process

Craniofacial treatment varies depending on the individual condition and person. Generally, treatment involves a series of surgeries, including plastic, maxillofacial, and neurosurgery techniques, to correct the deformity. This could include moving bone and soft tissues, implants, or reshaping and replacing entire skull parts. Craniofacial surgery is usually necessary for trauma-related injuries to the face or skull and post-tumor reconstruction.

Craniofacial orthodontics is a subcategory of treatments that caters to patients dealing with craniofacial anomalies that have occurred from congenital disabilities or those with a trauma injury. This treatment requires a team of professionals, including an orthodontist, pathologist, oral surgeon, and plastic surgeon, to correct anomalies like cleft lips and palates. Your orthodontist’s job is to evaluate your teeth and jaw development, handling the non-surgical portion of the treatment and performing pre/post-operative care.

This kind of treatment requires a personalized approach for each individual. It is meant to address functional issues and enhance aesthetics. There are various orthodontic treatments, including:

Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding (PNAM) – Reshapes the cleft lip and nose before surgical repair using custom-made appliances to approximate the lip segments and reshape the nasal cartilages gradually.
Palatal Expansion – Gradually widens the upper jaw, improving occlusion and overall function.
Orthodontic Alignment – Uses traditional braces or clear aligners for comprehensive orthodontic alignment, promoting proper function, dental health, and aesthetic harmony.
Orthognathic Surgery – It may be necessary to correct jaw imbalances or other skeletal discrepancies.

Craniofacial Treatment in Atlanta

If you need help learning about craniofacial orthodontics in Atlanta, Atlanta Orthodontic Specialists is the premier place. We’ll thoroughly assess your oral health, facial structure, and medical history to optimize your treatment plan. For some clients, we can provide crucial early intervention to address craniofacial issues in childhood, leading to improved outcomes and a better quality of life.

Our highly experienced team will collaborate with other healthcare providers to ensure that your needs are met and that each aspect of your plan is practical. Even after you complete your craniofacial treatment, we’ll be here to ensure you don’t encounter any setbacks and continue to see improvement in function and aesthetics. Closely follow your orthodontist’s guidance, and we’re sure you’ll return to your whole self in no time.

Your satisfaction is our #1 concern. That’s why we strive to provide compassionate, detailed care to each patient. Staff is carefully trained to provide the ultimate orthodontic experience to patients at our state-of-the-art teaching center. Our doctors have more collective clinical experience than any other practice in Georgia. AOS doctors lead the field in innovative diagnostic and treatment technologies – like SureSmile® and INVISALIGN® – and have done so for decades.

When you need treatment for a craniofacial disorder, make Atlanta Orthodontic Specialists your first call. Our team will guide you through the entire process to ensure you get the care you need and deserve. Take a look at what past and current clients have had to say about our service!

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Craniofacial Treatment

What is Craniofacial Disorder?

The Types of Craniofacial Anomalies

Craniofacial dysplasia

Craniofacial treatment process

Craniofacial treatment process

Craniofacial Treatment in Atlanta

Looking for Craniofacial Treatment?

Actions

Quick Links

Our Locations

HOWELL MILL

SANDY SPRINGS

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS

COLLEGE PARK

BUCKHEAD

MIDTOWN

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Craniofacial Treatment

What is Craniofacial Disorder?

The Types of Craniofacial Anomalies

Craniofacial dysplasia

Craniofacial treatment process

Craniofacial treatment process

Craniofacial Treatment in Atlanta

Looking for Craniofacial Treatment?

Actions

Quick Links

Our Locations

HOWELL MILL

SANDY SPRINGS

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS

COLLEGE PARK

BUCKHEAD

MIDTOWN

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Follow Us