Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Cleft lips and cleft palates are some of the most common types of birth defects. As many as one out of every 700 children are born with a cleft lip or cleft palate - the most common occurrences of clefts are in babies of Latino, Native American or Asian descent. Clefts occur when the tissue of the mouth or lip does not develop properly while the baby is in the womb. A cleft leaves the child with a gap in the tissue of their lip or the roof of their mouths. Fortunately, these defects are generally treatable.

A cleft lip is identifiable by a large gap in the upper lip that goes all the way up to the nose. A cleft palate is internal, where there's a large opening between the roof the mouth and the nasal cavity. Cleft lip and cleft palate sometimes occur together, but this isn't always the case. Also, sometimes a cleft can occur on both sides of the mouth. Cleft lips are more common in boys, and cleft palates (without a cleft lip) are more likely to occur in girls.

Causes of Oral Clefts

No one knows precisely what causes oral clefts. It is commonly believed to be influenced mostly by genes, as children born to parents who experienced cleft lip or palate as a child, or have a history of it in their family, are more likely to have a cleft. It has also been linked to certain environmental factors, such as the mother smoking or drinking while the child is in the womb. Needless to say, these behaviors should be avoided at all costs.

Doctors generally will know if a child has a cleft lip or cleft palate before he or she is born. An ultrasound will reveal the problem while the baby is in the womb, so the parents and doctors can prepare for dealing with the problem. In the majority of cases, a reconstructive surgery is performed before the child reaches two years of age. This will fix a cleft lip or cleft palate.

Problems Caused by Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Cleft lips can cause a number of problems for the child in question. Some babies have difficulty eating due to the condition, as the cleft lip can prevent the child from sucking on a nipple. As the child develops, he or she can sometimes have difficulty speaking, so a speech pathologist may be needed. Fortunately, a reconstructive surgeon can fix most of the physical problems.

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