A cleft lip is a lot more common than most people think. In fact, according to the CDC, about 1 in every 2800 newborns has a cleft lip and around 1 in every 1600 babies is born with both a cleft lip and cleft palate.
Although these issues aren’t uncommon, they do need to be treated. As a parent, knowing the basics about cleft treatments is essential for ensuring your child gets appropriate care at the opportune time during their development.
Brandon Kang, DDS, and our team at Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Center provide state-of-the-art cleft treatments for our patients in Oakland, California, correcting the cleft while improving both function and aesthetics. In this post, Dr. Kang offers a quick overview of cleft treatment so you can understand what to expect.
Cleft issues form between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy when the baby’s mouth and palate are forming. The left and right sides of a baby’s face develop independently, with each side of their face growing toward the center.
When one side develops more rapidly than the other, it affects the way the two sides come together. A cleft issue happens when the two sides are misaligned, preventing them from completely joining prior to birth.
The underlying cause of cleft issues isn’t known, and there’s no way to prevent a cleft before birth. However, there are ways to treat cleft issues after birth, using special surgical techniques designed specifically to correct cleft lip, cleft palate, or both.
There are three specific cleft issues that can occur:
Cleft issues can cause cosmetic concerns, and they also affect your child’s speech development and interfere with eating and hygiene.
Cleft lip surgery typically is performed once your child is about three months old. The surgery uses special techniques to close the split, create natural mouth contours, and restore muscle function. Larger clefts involving your child’s nostril may require a second procedure later on.
Cleft palate surgery usually happens when your child is around a year old, but it may be performed earlier or later, depending on your child’s needs. Ideally, the surgery is performed early to prevent issues with speech development. This surgery augments the palate tissue, closing the gap in the roof of their mouth and restoring normal function.
An alveolar cleft extends through your child’s upper gum and usually involves the upper arch or bone that supports their teeth. Surgery to repair an alveolar cleft may be delayed until your child is between 6-9 years old, or after their permanent canine teeth emerge.
Cleft repair is essential for restoring normal function, preventing future problems, and helping your child feel more confident about their appearance. To learn more about cleft repair surgery, book an appointment with Dr. Kang online or over the phone today.
