Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Specialists in Dental Implants

Understanding Treatment for a Cleft Lip or Palate

Posted on 10/10/2022 by Malmquist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Cleft lip or palate are oral defects commonly known as orofacial defects that occur when a baby's lip does not come together in the mother's womb. This is common in some births however there is a solution to fix it.

What is Cleft Lip?

A cleft lip is an oral defect that occurs when the tissues that form the lips in the baby do not form properly before the baby is born hence causing an opening structure on the upper lip. Also, the aperture is a small opening that can reach the lips and the nose.

What is Cleft Palate?

A Cleft palate occurs when the tissues responsible for making the baby's palate do not completely join together during pregnancy, resulting in an abnormal opening in the palate.

Children who suffer from cleft lip or palate experience difficulties in feeding and speaking; in some situations, they may experience ear infections. Also, they have experience hearing issues and teeth problems.

Treatment for a Cleft Lip or Palate

Treatment for cleft lip or palate varies based on the nature of the defects formed, the age of the baby, and the presence of associated syndromes or congenital disabilities in a child. The most common treatment for this condition is surgical intervention.

Dental surgeons recommend the surgery within the first twelve months, and they advise doing the surgery to correct the cleft palate in the first eighteen months of the baby's life. As the child ages, they may need additional surgical procedures to correct the defects properly.

The surgical procedures improve the appearance of the child's face, allow the child to improve his breathing and hearing, and allow the child to have normal speech and language development.

Furthermore, the dentist may recommend orthodontic care and speech therapy treatment to children born with orofacial clefts.

In conclusion, cleft lip or palate is manageable, and with suitable treatment, children who may have suffered this defect live healthy lives.

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Oral and Maxillofacial SurgerySpecialists in Dental Implants