Cleft photo mirror combining self-retraction, scaling, and anti-fogging features for cleft palate documentation.

Abstract

Summary: Documentation of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) presents a significant challenge due to the necessity for consistent, high-quality imaging throughout the extended treatment period. The use of traditional intraoral mirrors typically necessitates an assisting person for retraction of the lips, and cheeks, and mirror fogging cleaning. This results in variable fields of view and high personal resources. Distance measurements are not possible on conventional photographs, limiting their use for objective treatment analysis. To address these three challenges at once, we developed a customized intraoral mirror incorporating self-retraction, a reference scale, and an anti-fogging option. The mirror design features lateral extensions for effective lip and cheek retraction and two small laser-engraved black triangles, spaced 2 cm apart at the end of the mirror to measure the width of the cleft, enabling a single operator to independently capture clear images. The mirror is designed in four sizes to accommodate patients from newborn babies to adults. Clinical implementation demonstrated that the mirror allows the acquisition of high-quality standardized images without additional assistance enhancing workflow efficiency and consistency in documentation. By overcoming the limitations of traditional mirrors, our mirror provides a practical and efficient solution for CLP documentation. It facilitates accurate follow-up of treatment progress beyond orthodontic and surgical evaluation.