Many deformities of the ear can be easily treated within the first few days of life, eliminating the need for surgery in childhood or adolescence. One treatment is done through ear molding, a process that uses splints made of dental impression material to gently reshape the cartilage in your baby’s ears while it is still pliable. Ear molding treats the external ear and is available to babies under 14 days old. As an alternative, surgical reconstruction is an option if your child has more serious deformities, such as microtia (underdeveloped external ear), or is more than 14 days old.