Cleft Lip And Palate

Las Vegas, NV

What Is Cleft Lip?

Cleft lip is a common facial deformity that develops between the 4th and 7th weeks of pregnancy, when an infant’s face is shaping. As the infant’s cells grow toward each other, some don’t properly fuse together. This can create a visual opening or cleft in a newborn’s face around the mouth and nose.

What Is Cleft Palate?

The palate is the roof of the mouth. It develops between the 6th and 9th weeks of pregnancy to keep the functions of the mouth and nose independent for proper breathing and digestion. When cells don’t combine to fully connect the bone and muscle of the palate, an opening can form.

Benefits Of Cleft Lip & Palate Treatment

Treatment for a cleft lip or palate has the following major goals:

•	Close facial gaps (including mouth and nostril deformities).
•	Improve muscle function by aligning the upper jaw.
•	Provide patient a better sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

Why Consult An Oral Surgeon About Cleft & Lip Palate Correction?

A cleft can be diagnosed through an ultrasound, immediately after birth, or even years later, but treatment will vary depending on a patient’s cleft, age, and health. Even with treatment, one in five cleft repairs will split, forming a new opening and requiring further oral and maxillofacial surgery. It’s absolutely crucial to find an oral surgeon you can trust. Our oral surgeons can perform predictable procedures to safely repair the cleft palate or cleft lip.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”898″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” el_class=”img_col”][/vc_column][/vc_row]