Paediatric Orthodontic Unit
Orthodontics a speciality in Dentistry which involves the correction of malocclusion of teeth and malformation of the Jaws. We live in an era where the looks of an individual has a great impact on the quality of life of that individual. This is why Orthodontics has a very high demand.
We are very dedicated to cleft lip and management and do our very best to give the best of care to these children. Our aim is to give the best possible treatment to our patients and achieve an Aesthetic, Functional and stable outcome.
We register new patients below 12 years but follow up patients till their treatment is completed. Since Orthodontic treatment may span up to even ten years we have patient even in early twenties. Our aim is to give the best possible treatment to our patients and achieve an Aesthetic, Functional and stable outcome. We are very dedicated to cleft lip and management and do our very best to give the best of care to these children.
Our team has a Consultant Orthodontist, Senior Registrars, Registrars (No changes) 5 house officers.
Dr. Sriyani Basnayaka
Consultant Orthodontist
Clinic has a main clinic area with 6 Dental units and chairs, one isolated dental chair and unit for impression taking and another dental chair and unit in the consultant’s room.
Patients are referred to our clinic from the OPD Dental clinic at LRH and other special units and from other hospitals and School Dental clinics. These new patients can come to our clinic with the referral from Monday to Saturday in the morning and we screen them with regard to the need of the treatment. Patients should be free of Dental disease when they are referred to our clinic for Orthodontic treatment. Depending on the requirement of treatment the patient is given a date on a Saturday to be registered for treatment. 25 patients are given appointments on Saturday to take a short history and do the necessary investigations and for referral to other dental clinics for urgent dental treatment. Then according to the treatment need the patients are either put into a waiting list for Removable, Fixed and Functional appliance waiting list or are given a review appointment 3 to 6 months if we need to wait for the development of the full dentition. Full fixed appliance waiting can go up to 5 years.
Patients needing Surgical and Orthodontic joint treatment is planned with the Oral Maxillofacial surgeon at the joint clinic and we work together to get the best stable outcome for these patients.
| Name of Consultant | Speciality | Ward | Clinic Room | Day of the week |
| Dr. A. S. Basnayake | Consultant Orthodontist | Orthodontic Unit | Ward 16 | Monday to Saturday 8am – 4pm |
Monday to Friday mornings we see new referrals and 11 patients for Impressions of which 6 are new patients to be treated with removable appliances, two patients for second’s plates needed for continuing treatment, 2 study model to start fixed appliances and one impressions for Functional appliances. Where we need to construct palatal / lingual arches, quadhelix or RME appliances it is considered as making two new plates. Additional impressions when needed for cleft babies feeding plates or surgical splints or distractors are made by technicians on request.
2 New full fixed appliances are fitted daily and 4 sectional fixed appliances are fitted except on Mondays and Thursdays where special clinics are held. 25 fixed appliance adjustments and 35 removable appliances are adjusted daily. Patients with broken removable appliance can come to clinic to get them repaired on any of these days. Fixed appliance patients with broken brackets are also seen where the emergency arises.
Patients awaiting treatment or waiting till the full development of the dentition are reviews on 3-6 month or yearly basis on the requirement.
Every Thursday morning we have a joint clinic with the Restorative specialist for necessary advice and referral and up to 10 patients are seen at this clinic. Last Thursday of the month The Alveolar Bone graft clinic is held jointly with the Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon from the Teaching Hospital Kalubowila. Maximum up to 20 patients can be seen at this clinic. We participate in the Multidisciplinary joint clinic for Cleft babies held every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month at room 35 OPD.
Monday to Friday except Wednesday afternoon 2-3.30pm is dedicated to fitting of new Removable appliance, removing of fixed appliances and fitting retainers. Up to ten patients are seen for this purpose and two wax bite patents to construct Functional appliances are also included in this.
Once treatment is completed for our patients retainers are fitted and the patients are reviewed 3-6 month intervals up to I year and discharged.
The common surgeries performed in the unit …