What are Cleft Lip and Palate? Diganosis and Treatment

Written by Medicover Team and Medically Reviewed by Dr Radha Manjusha , Plastic Surgeons

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1. Causes 2. Find a Doctor 3. Diagnosis 4. Treatment 5. FAQs

A cleft is a fissure or a gap. The cleft of the lip can be small or partial and looks like a cleft in the lip. A full cleft will stretch to the nose. A unilateral cleft occurs on the right or left side of the upper lip. A bilateral cleft affects both sides. A cleft palate occurs when the two parts of the skull that make up the hard palate do not fuse.

The soft palate also has a gap or cleft. A full cleft palate can also result in a void in the lip, while an incomplete cleft palate appears as a break in the roof of the mouth. Most conditions can be corrected with limited scarring thanks to advanced surgery.

What are the Symptoms of Cleft Lip and Palate?

The main symptom is the presence of the cleft at birth. A cleft lip can be as small as a small notch on the upper lip. It could also be as large as a slit or a hole that goes up to the nose. A cleft palate could be just a small area that is not formed correctly. It can also appear as a large gap in the roof of the mouth. Children with clefts often have feeding, speech, hearing, ear, and dental problems.

What are the Causes of Cleft Lip and Palate?

Cleft palate and cleft lip have no clear cause, but physicians believe they result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetics may play a role if one or both parents pass on genes that increase the risk. Certain factors during pregnancy may also increase the likelihood of a baby being born with a cleft lip or palate.

Factors that may contribute include:

Smoking Cigarettes
Drinking Alcohol
Using Illegal Drugs
Not Getting Enough Prenatal Vitamins, Such as Folic Acid

A cleft may occur as an isolated birth defect or as part of an inherited genetic condition, such as Van der Woude syndrome or velocardiofacial syndrome.

When to See a Doctor for Cleft Lip and Palate?

If your baby is born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, or if feeding, speech, hearing, or dental problems develop later, consult a Plastic Surgeon. Early diagnosis and treatment by a Plastic Surgeon can improve feeding, speech development, facial appearance, hearing, dental health, and your child's overall quality of life.

If your newborn is born with a visible cleft lip, cleft palate, or both.
If your baby has difficulty feeding, sucking, swallowing, or is not gaining weight properly.
If milk frequently passes through the nose during feeding.
If your child develops delayed speech, unclear speech, or difficulty pronouncing words.
If your child experiences frequent ear infections, hearing loss, or fluid buildup in the ears.
If dental abnormalities, misaligned teeth, or jaw development problems become noticeable.
If your child requires evaluation before or after cleft lip or palate repair surgery or additional reconstructive procedures.
If your child is diagnosed with or suspected to have cleft lip and palate, consult a Plastic Surgeon for a comprehensive evaluation, individualized treatment planning, and coordinated multidisciplinary care.

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How is Cleft Lip and Palate Diagnosed?

Cleft lip and cleft palate can often be diagnosed before birth using an ultrasound scan. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the developing baby inside the womb. If a cleft lip or palate is detected during pregnancy, additional tests, such as amniotic fluid analysis, may be recommended to identify associated genetic conditions, including Van der Woude syndrome.

How is Cleft Lip and Palate Treated?

The severity of the cleft determines the treatment approach. Most children require one or more surgeries to close the cleft and restore normal appearance and function. Care is usually provided by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

Surgery: Cleft lip or palate repair is usually performed during the first year of life. Additional reconstructive procedures may be needed as the child grows.
Cleft Lip Repair: Surgery is generally performed between 10 weeks and 1 year of age. For larger clefts, lip adhesion may be performed before the definitive repair. During surgery, the surgeon closes the gap using tissue from both sides of the lip while the child is under general anesthesia.
Cleft Palate Repair: Surgery is typically performed between 6 and 18 months of age. The muscles and tissues on both sides of the palate are joined to close the opening and improve speech and feeding.

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What are the Complications of Cleft Lip and Palate?

Feeding Problems: Children with a cleft palate are more likely to experience feeding difficulties, ear infections, and hearing loss due to fluid build-up in the middle ear.
Speech Problems: Speech may sound nasal or be difficult to understand because of the cleft palate. Surgical repair and speech therapy often improve communication.
Dental Issues:
- A Greater Number of Cavities
- Missing, Extra, Malformed, or Displaced Teeth Requiring Treatment
- Defects of the Alveolar Ridge That May Affect Tooth Eruption, Jaw Development, and Tooth Alignment

What are the Risk Factors for Cleft Lip and Palate?

Family History of Cleft Lip or Palate Increases the Risk of Having a Baby with a Cleft.
Exposure to Cigarette Smoke, Alcohol, or Certain Medications During Pregnancy Increases the Risk.
Women with Diabetes Before Pregnancy May Have a Higher Risk of Having a Baby with a Cleft.
Obesity During Pregnancy May Increase the Risk of Cleft Lip and Palate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens when a baby is born with a cleft lip?

Babies born with a cleft lip have a gap or opening in the upper lip. This happens when the baby's lip does not form properly early in pregnancy, resulting in a split.

2. Why is cleft lip bad?

Dental problems A cleft lip and palate can mean that a child's teeth don't develop properly and they may be at increased risk for cavities. speech problems if the cleft palate is not repaired

3. Can cleft lip scar be removed?

A cleft lip or palate frequently necessitates surgery under general anesthesia to bridge the gap. During surgery, a plastic surgeon will make minimal incisions on the outer edges of the separated tissues and sew the lip together.