Cleft Palate

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Cleft lip and cleft palate
Cleft Palate is the fourth most common birth defect in the United States. One of every 700 newborns is affected by cleft lip or cleft palate or even both.
A cleft lip is a separation of the two sides of the lip. The separation often includes the bones of the upper jaw and upper gum. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth in which the two sides of the palate did not fuse or join together when the unborn baby was in the early stages of development. Cleft lip and cleft palate can occur on one side which is called unilateral cleft palate, or on both sides which is bilateral cleft palate. Because the lip and the palate develop separately, it is possible for the child to have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both cleft lip and cleft palate.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital defects, or more commonly know as birth defects, which occur very early in pregnancy. The majority of clefts appear to be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors. The risks of recurrence of a cleft condition are dependent upon many factors, including the number of affected persons in the family, the closeness of affected relatives, the race and sex of all affected persons, and the severity of the clefts.
A child born with a cleft frequently requires several different types of corrections to make him look and feel normal. First is plastic surgery which will correct his exterior cleft lip. Second is dental or orthodontic care were they put in fake teeth if need and even possible new gums and the roof of the babies mouth which has to be changed regular cause of rapid growth of the child. Last is speech therapy, which is needed because all the new adjustments the baby is getting. All of which need to be provided in a coordinated manner over a period of years. This care is provided by interdisciplinary cleft palate or craniofacial teams comprised of professionals from a variety of health care discip...