Cleft lips and cleft palates are familiar birth defects that occur in about 1 in 550 births. It would not be uncommon if you know or have interacted with someone with this condition, or whose children were born with the same.
Thanks to technological advances, most babies have surgery at an early age to correct the malformation of these oral tissues. While outpatient therapies that focus on eating and speech may be needed, children born with cleft lips are able to lead very normal lives. We have provided a cursory overview of the condition and any additional precautions that must be taken by those born with a cleft lip.
What is a cleft lip or cleft palate?
A cleft lip occurs while a baby is developing in the womb, and earlier than you might think—between the fourth and seventh week gestation. The malformation occurs while the tissues from the head are pushed forward to produce the mouth and lips. If the tissues do not join completely, an opening will result in the upper lip. This opening can vary in severity and location. In addition to the cleft lip, many children will also develop a cleft palate. This occurs when the roof of the mouth does not completely join together. Just like with the lip, the severity and location of opening varies child to child.
What causes cleft lips?
Like many birth defects, the exact causes of a cleft lip or palate are unknown. Some children are predisposed to this condition due to their genetic history, while others are affected due to the environment the mother came into contact with while she was pregnant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently reported on certain external factors that have increased the likelihood a child is born with this condition. For example, they have discovered that women who smoke during pregnancy are at a higher risk of having a child born with a cleft lip than women who don’t. In addition, the use of certain medications during the first trimester has also been linked to orofacial clefts. As the CDC continues to study this, it is important to discuss with your doctor any risk factors if you become pregnant.
Diagnosis and treatment
Orofacial clefts can be diagnosed during the pregnancy through the use of an ultrasound. Cleft palates are harder to see on an ultrasound and may be found at birth. If a child is found to have a cleft lip or palate, their doctor with create a treatment plan based on its severity. It is recommended children undergo their first corrective surgery within the first twelve months of life. Early treatment is important, since their language and ability to eat is affected. It’s common that children will undergo multiple surgeries throughout life as they grow.
It’s recommended that children with cleft palates are monitored by cleft and craniofacial specialists to ensure coordinated care is given to the child. These teams are trained to intervene early if there are concerns with speech or language development, and if special dental or orthodontic care is needed.
Oral care post-surgery
Children born with this condition require the same preventive dental care as all children at minimum. However, due to unique problems faced by many of these children that include mispositioned or malformed teeth, early intervention by dentists trained to treat this condition is needed to ensure the best oral hygiene possible.
Early dental care can sometimes be provided by their cleft palate team; however, by age three, many experts believe these children can transition to the care of a traditional dentist. The child’s dentist, orthodontist and surgeon should all communicate about any procedures to ensure it aligns with the treatment strategy.
Here at Josey Lane we are committed to working with all our patients and their caregivers to ensure the best outcome. We have a long history of coordinating care among other providers and seeking out the best, most-up-to-date treatment plans. If you or your child has a cleft lip or palate, we would be honored to be a part of your oral health treatment plan!
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