The Treatment of Cleft Lip and/or Palate

By Matthew K. Geneser, DDS

Clefts of the lip and/or palate affect children of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, with an overall worldwide prevalence of approximately one in 700 live births.¹ In the United States, it is estimated that nearly one in 1,000 babies is born with an orofacial cleft.² Interdisciplinary treatment is required, and this article will focus on developments in care, and the ever changing and expanding role of the dental provider. Clefts vary greatly in severity; one mild form, for example, is a submucous cleft, in which the soft palate is involved, but the oral tissues are intact. A submucous cleft may go undetected until toddler years, when abnormal speech may lead to a diagnosis. More severe clefts can involve the lip, hard palate, and, less frequently, facial structures. Clefts are classified as complete or incomplete, as well as unilateral or bilateral. Half of all orofacial clefts involve both the palate and lip, while clefts isolated to the palate are less common.² This condition can result from isolated genetic mutations, environmental factors, or teratogen exposures, including alcohol and tobacco. They are also associated with a number of syndromes (Table 1). While genetics may play a role in the development of orofacial clefts, both syndromic and nonsyndromic, genetics are not the sole determinant.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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