Cleft Palate

Cleft palates are a sad, but all too common, deformity found in 1 in 700 children today. A cleft palate occurs when there is a gap between the two plates of the skull and the hard palate. This generally results in a cleft in the soft palate as well, and often even the lip. A cleft palate can be partial or complete, unilateral or bilateral, but it most commonly splits the uvula and can cause serious developmental problems, as well as cosmetic issues, that can plague a child for many years. Medical science has progressed to the point that teams are often ready to begin analyzing and treating cleft palates from birth. Generally, cleft palates can begin surgical repair procedures when the child is between 6 and 12 months old. However, every case is different and in most cases, that treatment will have to continue throughout the child's life.