Cleft lip and palate is a birth deformity due to incomplete growth of the lip and/or palate, resulting in an opening of the lip an/or palate into the nose. The sources of which can be genetic, developmental, poor prenatal care, or simply coincidental.
Treatment
Treatment is always in a team approach throughout the child’s life including speech therapy, pediatrician, orthodontics, pedodontics, and our office as the oral & maxillofacial surgeons. There are multiple surgeries performed at various stages of growth that will begin at 3months of life up until 20 years of age.
Surgeries
1. Lip Repair 3 months
2. Palatal Repair 12-18 months
3. Tooth bearing bone reconstruction 10 -13 years old
4. Jaw Surgery 16-18 years old
5. Nose surgery 18- 20 years old