Today I treated a 9-year-old child with CP. Her palate was so narrow that the tip of my index finger could only fit between her upper teeth and not touch her gums at all. Difficulty in swallowing was her primary issue. As a frame of reference to the narrowness, our goal at Baby Day is to fully seat our index finger in the newborn's palate with a little wiggle room. A narrow upper jaw can lead to narrowed eyes, sinuses, mandible, and throat. Orthodontically, widening the jaws should help all of these areas. Better yet, what if the BBS/CFT had been done at birth in regards to the CP and facial narrowness? At Baby Day we do not finish an infant until the palate is wide. Prevention at birth cannot come soon enough for me.....too much needless suffering.
