CLEFT LIP AND PALATE
What is Cleft Lip and Palate?
Cleft Lip: It is a separation of the two sides of the lip. The separation often includes the bones of the upper jaw and/or upper gum.
Cleft palate: It is an opening in the roof of the mouth.
Cleft lip and palate is a condition, which occurs when the two sides of the lip or roof of the mouth (palate) does not completely fuse together. The lip and palate develop separately so it is possible for a child to have a cleft lip, a cleft palate or both. The size of the cleft lip may range from a small notch in the upper lip to an opening that extends into the base of the nostril. The cleft may be single sided or may occur on both sides.
What are the problems associated with cleft?
- Feeding problems, baby cannot suck milk
- Flow of milk through nasal passages during feeding causing recurrent chest infections
- Failures to gain weight
- Speech difficulties
- Recurrent ear infection
- Missing teeth or extra teeth, poorly formed front teeth
- Malaligned teeth
- Change in nose shape
How cleft lip/palate develops?
While baby is growing in the mothers womb, parts of the skull, face and head gradually grow together. Cleft lip and palate occur when some of these areas do not join up fully before birth. These defects do occur during first few weeks of life.
What are the underlying causes for cleft lip/palate?
- Can be genetical
- Poor maternal nutrition,
- Vitamin B deficiency,
- Excessive exposure to radiation,
- Anti-abortificant drugs, and
- Certain medications such as those used to control nausea
- Second hand smoking
How to treat cleft lip/palate?
It includes a inter disciplinary team approach
