Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby's lip or mouth do not form properly. They happen early during pregnancy. A baby can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both.

A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This causes an opening in the upper lip. The opening can be a small slit or a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose. It can be on one or both sides of the lip or, rarely, in the middle of the lip.

Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate. The roof of the mouth is called the "palate." With a cleft palate, the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join correctly. Babies may have both the front and back parts of the palate open, or they may have only one part open.

Children with a cleft lip or a cleft palate often have problems with feeding and talking. They also might have ear infections, hearing loss, and problems with their teeth.

Often, surgery can close the lip and palate. Cleft lip surgery is usually done before age 12 months, and cleft palate surgery is done before 18 months. Many children have other complications. They may need additional surgeries, dental and orthodontic care, and speech therapy as they get older. With treatment, most children with clefts do well and lead a healthy life.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Symptoms of Cleft Lip and Palate

The following features are indicative of Cleft Lip and Palate:
  • change in nose shape
  • poorly aligned teeth
  • failure to gain weight
  • feeding problems
  • flow of milk through nasal passages during feeding
  • poor growth
  • repeated ear infections
  • speech difficulties

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Common Causes of Cleft Lip and Palate

The following are the most common causes of Cleft Lip and Palate:
  • improper fusion of tissues in the baby's face and mouth
  • inheritance of genes from mother to fetus

Risk Factors for Cleft Lip and Palate

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Cleft Lip and Palate:
  • family history
  • being men
  • smoking during pregnancy
  • alcohol consumption
  • being diabetic
  • obese during pregnancy

Prevention of Cleft Lip and Palate

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Cleft Lip and Palate. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • avoid use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy
  • genetic counseling of expecting parents

Occurrence of Cleft Lip and Palate

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Cleft Lip and Palate cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Cleft Lip and Palate most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Less than 1 year old

Common Gender

Cleft Lip and Palate can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Cleft Lip and Palate

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Cleft Lip and Palate:
  • Prenatal ultrasound: To view pictures of the developing fetus

Doctor for Diagnosis of Cleft Lip and Palate

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Cleft Lip and Palate:
  • Obstetricians
  • Otolaryngologists
  • Pediatricians
  • Oral surgeons
  • Pediatric dentists
  • Orthodontists
  • Nurses
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers
  • Genetic counselors
  • Speech therapists
  • Auditory specialists

Complications of Cleft Lip and Palate if untreated

Yes, Cleft Lip and Palate causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Cleft Lip and Palate is left untreated:
  • hearing problems
  • speech problems
  • ear infections

Procedures for Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate

The following procedures are used to treat Cleft Lip and Palate:
  • Surgery: To improve speech or improve the appearance of the lip and nose

Patient Support for Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate

The following actions may help Cleft Lip and Palate patients:
  • Parents support: Helps child gain confidence to make decisions

Time for Treatment of Cleft Lip and Palate

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Cleft Lip and Palate to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • More than 1 year

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Cleft Lip and Palate.

Related Topics

Cleft Lip and Palate

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