Frequently asked questions about Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery

Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: surgically repairs lip and palate birth defects. Closes the splitting of the upper lip and/or abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth. It is not uncommon to need more than one surgery for these corrections. Procedure may be performed when child is an infant.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What causes cleft lip and palate?

A: Most of the time the cause is unknown. Clefts can run in families and be associated with other problems. Some drugs taken during pregnancy are known to cause clefts. Clefts are more common in certain ethnic groups. In most cases, however, there is no identifiable cause or risk factor. In the United States, clefts occur once in every 700-1000 births, making it a relatively common birth defect.

Q: Do babies with clefts have other problems?

A: A: Most children with clefts do not have other birth defects. Most are normal in intelligence and other abilities. Children with clefts do have a higher incidence of a problem called serous otitis media, or fluid in the ear. If untreated, frequent ear infections and even hearing loss can result. Many children with clefts have abnormalities of the teeth, which can range from crooked teeth to extra or missing teeth.

Q: What treatment is available for cleft lip and palate?

A: Dr. Wallace repairs cleft lip when the baby is 8-12 weeks old. We usually repair cleft palate at 12-24 months of age. The exact age for repair will depend on the size and health of the child and various other factors. Many children with cleft palate will require a second operation on the palate to help get better speech. This happens in about 20% of cases and cannot always be predicted at the time of the original palate surgery. Many children with clefts involving the gum line will benefit from an operation to put extra bone in the gum. This is called an alveolar bone graft. This allows the permanent teeth to come in better. This operation is done sometime between the ages of 6 and 10, depending on how fast the permanent teeth are developing. Children with clefts of the lip may need or want touch-up operations to improve the appearance of the scars. As teenagers, many need nasal surgery to improve breathing or appearance. In some children with clefts, the jaws are not in good alignment. In these cases, surgery can be done to align the bite.