Final answer:
Presurgical orthopedics of cleft lip and palate helps in feeding by temporarily aligning oral structures to prevent malnutrition in infants before surgical repair.
Step-by-step explanation:
One reason for presurgical orthopedics of cleft lip and cleft palate is to aid in feeding and prevent malnutrition. Cleft palate is a condition that affects the hard palate, a bony structure that separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity. This defect can cause a gap between the nasal and oral cavities, making it challenging for infants to generate the necessary suckling motion needed for nursing. Therefore, presurgical orthopedics can help to temporarily align and stabilize the oral structures, improving the infant's ability to feed and reducing the risk of malnutrition prior to permanent surgical correction.