# Smartphone and AI Workflow for 3D Printed Plate for Presurgical Therapy in Cleft Lip and Palate: Retrospective Evaluation of Outcomes

## TL;DR

A smartphone and AI workflow was tested for making 3D printed plates to treat cleft lip and palate in newborns, showing promising results in reducing treatment time and cleft size.

## Contribution

A novel smartphone and AI-assisted workflow for presurgical plate fabrication in cleft lip and palate treatment is introduced and evaluated.

## Key findings

- Treatment began at 10.8 days and lasted 113.5 days with an average of five visits.
- Anterior cleft width and cleft area decreased by 56.8% and 40.8%, respectively.
- Maxillary segment growth was significantly observed.

## Abstract

To explore clinical feasibility of smartphone and AI-assisted workflow for presurgical orthopedic therapy in newborns with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP).

Retrospective exploratory cohort study.

A tertiary craniofacial center.

Twenty consecutive (13 females, 7 males) with non-syndromic complete UCLP treated 2022–2024.

Passive presurgical plates fabricated through smartphone scanning of impressions, AI-assisted automated plate design and 3D printing.

Clinical outcomes (treatment duration, visits, complications) and morphological changes (anterior cleft width, cleft area, IMT angle, maxillary segment areas).

Therapy began at 10.8 ± 5.7 days, lasted 113.5 ± 15.6 days and required a mean of five visits. Anterior cleft width and cleft area reduced 56.8% and 40.8% with significant maxillary segment growth.

Smartphone and AI assisted workflows showed feasibility of safe, efficient presurgical plate fabrication and therapy, streamlining production and accessibility while reducing procedural burden. The findings remain preliminary and should be interpreted with caution.