APO’s 1st 2013-14 General Meeting: Joint Seminar with NCF on Naso-Alveolar Molding (NAM) – Lecture and Workshop

By Dr. Daryl Joy Dayrit (PPDSI) & Dr. Timothy Eustaquio (1st year, UP Graduate Ortho)

The Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO) and Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation (NCF) Philippines, Inc. in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline and Smile Train celebrated the Chinese New Year with the hosting of the 1st NAM: Lecture and Workshop at the GSK Nathan Hall, Pasong Tamo Extension last February 10, 2013.

Approximately a hundred registrants attended the lecture and workshop including the graduate ortho students of UP, UE, CEU and MCU. The program started with APO President, Dr. Laarni Serraon as she updated the APO members with their membership info. She also reported on the activities from the Alay Parada February 3, 2013 proving that it is more fun in APO.

Dr. Glenda De Villa shared the history of the NCF, Philippines Inc. and congratulated them for their 10th Anniversary. This was followed by different lectures for the day with the first presenter being Dr. Cryosine Marquez who presented the use of Naso-Alveolar Molding or NAM to Unilateral Cleft Patients.

Dr. Faye David-Paloyo discussed that NAM is a necessary appliance (for patients 0-3 months) prior to cheiloplasty as it will give better results for the lip and nose appearance after the surgery.

Dr. Danilo Magtanong had a short presentation about Polident focusing on Filipino misconceptions about dentures.

Dr. Cecile Tuano-Cabrera also presented that with the help of NAM, the protruded premaxilla segment is forced to be aligned with the dento-alveolar segments. It also improves nasal asymmetry and tip of the patient.

Finally, there is a common misconception that patients are challenged drinking milk after surgery; however, Dr. Xenia Velmonte shared through her lecture on why we need NAM for bilateral cleft surgery and how this addresses the said challenge.

In the afternoon, the NAM workshop was delivered by Dr. Maria Janet Pandan. She showed videos on how to make the nasal stent. A silicone of a unilateral cleft patient was provided by the NCF and the resident dentists of the Our Lady of Peace Hospital assisted the participants on the step-by-step procedure of preparing the nasal stent. The participants of the workshop were each given a manual illustrating the procedures necessary to make a NAM appliance along with maintenance and patient/parent instructions. All in all, a successful APO’s partnership to NCF Philippines’ advocacy in improving the quality of cleft treatment in the Philippines.