Nasoalveolar Molding Aka NAM

Below information extracted from CleftSmiles.org.

NAM stands for nasoalveolar molding. It is a procedure done by dentists prior to surgical repair for cleft lip and palate because surgical repair alone cannot correct the multiple problems encountered with the deformities that result from clefts of the lip and palate. A difficult challenge for the surgeon is the creation of an aesthetically acceptable correction of the deficient columella (middle part of the nose) and the deformity of the nasal cartilages. The NAM technique takes advantage of the malleability of immature cartilage of the nose and the ability to non-surgically construct the columella through the application of tissue expansion. Pre-surgical infant orthopedics (molding) has been employed since the 1950's for correction of cleft lip and palate, but it does not take into account the deformities of the nasal cartilages and columella.. By the addition of a nasal portion to the molding plate, we can now correct the nasal tip, the base on the affected side, as well as the position of the philtrum and columella.

I couldn't find a lot of website that clearly explain NAM, but below are some website worth exploring into.

http://cleftsmiles.org/Home.html
http://ekkhwab.com/2009/04/11/nam-nasoalveolar-molding/
http://www.cleftstories.com/
http://www.cleftstories.com/cleft-lip-palate-archives/category/cleft-lip/nam-adjustments/page/2/
http://www.cleftstories.com/cleft-lip-palate-archives/why-the-nam/