Parameters of care for craniosynostosis: Dental and orthodontic perspectives

IntroductionA multidisciplinary conference was convened in March 2010 with the charge to develop parameters of care for patients with craniosynostosis. The 52 participants represented 16 medical specialties and 16 professional societies. Herein, we present the dental, orthodontic, and surgical care recommendations for those with craniosynostosis, with special emphasis on craniosynostosis syndromes.MethodsPlenary and small-group iterative discussions were held to draft specialty-specific parameters of care. All participants reviewed and discussed each specialty-specific document. Special care was taken to ensure cross-discipline interactions, recognizing the importance of interdisciplinary team care.ResultsA unified document was produced delineating longitudinal care parameters from prenatal assessment and consultation to adulthood in all the represented specialty areas. The dental and orthodontic care parameters from infancy to adulthood are explained in terms of stages of development and coordinated with interdisciplinary assessments and interventions.ConclusionsThe consensus document provides a detailed description of physical, functional, and cognitive development in persons with craniosynostosis and recommends staged team observations and interventions. The expectation is that the document will help to ensure state-of-the-art care for patients with craniosynostosis and provide a generally acceptable framework for collaborative studies.