Cleft palate is one of the most common birth defects today. You can find a host of dentists today offering various solutions for children suffering from cleft palate. Today one out of every 600 newborns is affected by cleft palate. A cleft palate is a separation of the two sides of the lip. The separation includes bones of the upper jaw or the upper gum. A cleft palate is also an opening in the roof of the mouth. Cleft palate can occur on one side or on both sides of the mouth. Since the lip and the palate develop separately, it is quite possible that the child will have a cleft palate or both cleft lip and cleft palate.
In the early weeks of development, before a child is born, the right and left sides of the lip and the roof of the mouth grow together in normal circumstances. At times, however, in about one out of very 800 babies, these sections fail to meet. A child who is born with a separation in the upper lip has cleft lip. A birth defect of a similar form in the roof of the mouth, or palate is called a cleft palate. Since the lip and the palate develop separately, it becomes possible for a child to have a cleft lip, a cleft palate or both.
In the early weeks of development, before a child is born, the right and left sides of the lip and the roof of the mouth grow together in normal circumstances. At times, however, in about one of every 800 babies, these sections fail to meet. A child who is born with a separation in the upper lip has cleft lip. A birth defect of a similar form in the roof of the mouth, or palate is called a cleft palate. Since the lip and the palate develop separately, it becomes possible for a child to have a cleft lip, a cleft palate or both.
Cleft palate is a congenital defect. They are birth defects which occur during early stages of pregnancy. Some major clefts appear due to genetic and environmental factors. The risk of recurrence of a cleft palate is dependent on many factors. These factors can include the number of persons affected in the family, the race and sex of affected people and also on the severity of the clefts.
A child which is born with a cleft constantly requires unique attention and care. A child which is affected by cleft palate might need surgery, dental/orthodontic care and speech therapy. All of these treatments need to be provided in a coordinated manner over a period of time. This care is provided by interdisciplinary cleft palate teams which comprises of professionals from a variety of health care settings. They work together on the child's total rehabilitation.