Cleft Lip and Palate

A birth defect where parts of the face and mouth do not join together properly during embryonic development.  A cleft is an opening in a structure that is normally intact.  Cleft lip can affect any portion of the lip.  Cleft palate affects the roof of the mouth.  Cleft lip and palate can occur separately or together. In addition to the obvious disfigurement, clefts create various medical problems, such as difficulty feeding, ear infections, speech difficulties, and delayed growth of the face.  There is no obvious cause, but the disorder may run in families.  They are more common in Chinese, Japanese, and Native American groups.  Treatment is by surgery  to close the cleft and reshape the surrounding tissue.  Specialized dental care and speech therapy are often needed.