Jay, As a dental hygienist I would await Brian's view on a "bubble palate" as you describe, and to your excellent questions, in your post of May 16th. Some dental implications that come to mind besides orthodontics is fitting and retention of prosthetics (dentures, partials...hopefully never required), or other oral appliances (retainers, biteguards, fluoride trays, athletic mouthguards). These would not cause me to rush into remodelling of the palate. If possible I would also seek a consultation with a pediatric speech pathologist/therapist. I was pleased with assessment and conservative therapeutic recommendations we got for our daughter from such a professional at a cleft lip and palate clinic (for a different oral problem). Interesting thoughts on nipple trauma due to palatal morphology. Can't think of a way to flatten out a newborn's palate fast enough, and nontraumatically, so as not to interfere with breastfeeding in the process. Also if there is a contributory tongue thrust the shaping would tend to recurr (as in relapse when retainers are discontinued, after orthodontics for uncorrected oral habits or muscular forces, eg. tight labial frenulum). With a good latch and suck at breast likely baby is getting some gentle physical therapy already, or at least not exacerbating oral architecture "problem" as could with rigid artificial nipple. Palatal tori (bony protuberances) are not uncommon. Wonder if they could cause difficulties too? Breastfeeding was not touched on in head and neck or dental anatomy courses 20 years ago. Maybe it is time to add this to the dental curriculum. Suzanne