University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s most respected children’s hospitals. Our internationally renowned craniofacial team has a wide range of experience in treating all forms of cleft lip and palate. It is one of the most common problems we treat, because it is one of the most common congenital anomalies in children. In fact, clefts of the lip and palate occur in approximately one in 700 births.
What are cleft lip and palate?
Cleft lip and palate are incomplete formations of the upper lip and roof of the mouth. This causes a gap or defect to occur in the affected area, involving skin, muscle and oral lining. There is often an associated deformity of the nose on the affected side.
At UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, we work with you to create an individual treatment plan that is right for your child. Our goal is to help your child look and feel as normal as possible when he or she enters school.
Timeline
| Age |
Treatment |
1 - 3 weeks
|
Plastic surgery evaluation |
| |
Considerations:
- Presurgical orthopedics (Pediatric dentistry)
- Ear tubes (Otolaryngology)
|
| 3 - 6 months |
Cleft lip repair |
| |
Ear tubes (Otolaryngology) |
11 - 12 months
|
Cleft palate repair |
| 18 months |
Speech evaluation (Speech therapy)
|
| 2 1/2 - 3 years |
Craniofacial Clinic
- once your child begins repeating phrases,
he/she will have annual visits with entire team |
| 3 - 4 1/2 years |
Secondary speech management (If necessary) |
| 5 - 6 years |
Lip/Nose revision (If necessary) |
| 8 years |
Alveolar bone grafting (If necessary) |
| 14+ years |
Monitor midfacial growth
|
While this timeline gives you a good idea of when your child should be treating the various stages and symptoms of cleft lip and palate, every child is unique, and should be assessed by a qualified doctor. If you would like to make an appointment to have your child evaluated by our team of specialists, contact us.