Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment

Cleft lip and palate is a condition that arises from a failure of the structures of the baby's face to join during the embryonic period. A baby may have only a cleft lip, only a cleft palate, or both. These clefts can be on one side or on both sides. When a baby is born with a cleft palate, feeding plates should be made so that the baby can feed. Special bottles and teats also help with feeding. The cleft lip is closed surgically when the baby is 4–6 months old, and the cleft palate when the child is 1–1.5 years old. After these operations it is normal for problems such as teeth not erupting, or the jaws being misplaced or narrow, to appear. To detect these problems, the child should be taken to an orthodontist again at around 7–8 years of age and the treatment plan set by the doctor should be followed.