Cleft lip and cleft palate
- Cleft lip: the upper lip does not form completely.
- Cleft palate: the roof of the mouth does not form completely.
- Cleft lip and palate can cause difficulty with feeding, speech, and hearing.
- Surgery is the treatment. The lip is fixed first.
A cleft lip and cleft palate are two distinct birth defects that can occur together or separately. Cleft lip is a separation or opening in the upper lip, while cleft palate is a separation of the roof of the mouth that can involve the hard palate (the bony front part of the roof of the mouth) and/or the soft palate (the soft back part of the roof of the mouth). Cleft lip and palate occur when the tissues that form the face and mouth do not join properly during fetal development.
Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate
Special nipples are used for these babies. Babies should not use pacifier. Sucking disrupts surgical site postoperatively.