What is a bilateral cleft lip and palate?
A bilateral cleft lip may appear as small notches in the edges of the lip only or extend into the nose or gums. A child may be born with just a cleft lip or may have a cleft palate as well, which is a split in the roof of the mouth. Sometimes a cleft occurs as part of a syndrome, meaning there are other birth defects.
What are the different types of cleft lip and palate?
A cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip; a cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth….Cleft lips
- Forme fruste or microform cleft lip: A small indentation on one or both sides of the lip.
- Incomplete unilateral cleft lip: An opening on one side of the lip that does not extend into the nose.
What is the difference between cleft lip and cleft palate?
Cleft lip is a birth defect in which a baby’s upper lip doesn’t form completely and has an opening in it. Cleft palate is a birth defect in which a baby’s palate (roof of the mouth) doesn’t form completely and has an opening in it. These birth defects are called oral clefts or orofacial clefts.
What is the main cause of cleft palate?
Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.
What is the difference between unilateral and bilateral cleft lip?
A cleft lip can range from a little notch in the coloured part of the lip to a complete separation of the upper lip which can extend up and into the nose. This can affect one side of the mouth (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral), and can be complete (meaning the cleft goes up into the nose) or incomplete.
Why are some babies born with cleft lip?
A cleft lip or palate happens when the structures that form the upper lip or palate fail to join together when a baby is developing in the womb. The exact reason why this happens to some babies is often unclear. It’s very unlikely to have been caused by anything you did or did not do during pregnancy.
What is a unilateral cleft lip and palate?
Unilateral cleft lip and palate is a defect involving the lip, nose and maxilla. These structures are inter-related, and simultaneous early correction of all the aspects of the defect is necessary to obtain a satisfactory result that will be maintained with growth.
What are the three main cleft groups?
Abstract. Cleft lip can be classified into three groups according to the fissure site: unilateral cleft lip, bilateral cleft lip, and median cleft lip [1].
Do all cleft palates need surgery?
A submucous cleft only needs to be repaired if speech and language are affected. Approximately 50% of children with a submucous cleft palate will require surgery to repair it. The other half will not need any surgery.
What is the most severe type of cleft?
The most severe form involves the entire secondary palate, seen as a gap in the palate from the tip of the uvula to the incisive foramen. This is the most overt of the incomplete palate clefts.
Is a cleft lip genetic?
The causes of cleft lip and cleft palate (or both) are unknown, although hereditary (genetic) factors sometimes play a small role. A cleft lip or cleft palate (or both) is not caused by anything the parents did or did not do during the pregnancy.
What problems result from cleft palate?
While most babies with cleft lip can breast-feed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult. Ear infections and hearing loss. Babies with cleft palate are especially at risk of developing middle ear fluid and hearing loss. Dental problems.
What bone is most often affected by a cleft palate?
The alveolar bone is the hard surface just behind the teeth. In a person with cleft lip and palate this bone is often affected by the cleft.
What age is best for operation of cleft palate?
Palate repair surgery is usually done when your baby is 6 to 12 months old. The gap in the roof of the mouth is closed and the muscles and the lining of the palate are rearranged. The wound is closed with dissolvable stitches. The operation usually takes about 2 hours and is done using a general anaesthetic.