Cleft Lip/Palate
Refer to the Cleft and Craniofacial Center
What is Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate?
What Early Steps Can Be Taken?
Many times, cleft lip and cleft palate are diagnosed during a prenatal ultrasound. In these cases, the CHKD craniofacial team will meet with you before your baby is born to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. During these prenatal consultations the team will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for your child’s birth.
Treatment
Treatment plans take into account all aspects of your child’s care. Though your child won’t have surgery for a few months after birth, they will immediately need help with feeding so they can grow and thrive. Our pediatric experts teach you how to feed your child using specialized bottles and techniques.
When your child is old enough, CHKD surgeons perform cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to repair the anomalies and improve mouth function and appearance. Your child may need more than one surgery to fully correct cleft lip and cleft palate, though it may be months or years before they have another craniofacial surgery.
Why Choose CHKD’s Cleft and Craniofacial Center?
- CHKD works to correct cleft lip and cleft palate as early as possible to improve maternal bonding, eating, and speech.
- CHKD offers a fully approved cleft palate-craniofacial team that meets the standards set by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. This accreditation ensures that your child is receiving the most comprehensive and current craniofacial/cleft care.
- Our goal is to treat your child – body and mind – by improving physical function and appearance while addressing the associated medical, education and social needs that might arise from their conditions.
- Our team combines years of experience with the latest technology to determine the best plan of care for each child.
As Your Child Grows
As your child ages, our speech therapists help them learn to talk so they can meet their developmental milestones.
Some children born with cleft lip or cleft palate may also need alveolar bone grafting surgery. Parents and patients can learn more about this surgery by reading our guide to alveolar bone grafting surgery.
Preparing for Alveolar Bone Grafting Surgery at CHKD