My Blog
Posts for tag: cleft palate

About one American baby in 700 is born with some form of lip or palate cleft—and the percentage is even higher in other parts of the world. At one time this kind of birth defect sentenced a child to a lifetime of social stigma and related health issues. But thanks to a surgical breakthrough over sixty years ago, cleft defects are now routinely treated and repaired.
Oral and facial clefts happen because a child’s facial structure fails to develop normally during pregnancy. This causes gaps or “clefts” to occur in various parts of the mouth or face like the upper lip, the palate (roof of the mouth), the nose or (more rarely) in the cheek or eye region. Clefts can have no tissue fusion at all (a “complete” cleft) or a limited amount (an “incomplete” cleft), and can affect only one side of the face (“unilateral”) or both (“bilateral”).
There was little that could be done up until the early 1950s. That’s when a U.S. Navy surgeon, Dr. Ralph Millard, stationed in Korea noticed after reviewing a series of cleft photos that tissue needed to repair a cleft was most often already present but distorted by the defect. From that discovery, he developed techniques that have since been refined in the ensuing decades to release the distorted tissue and move it to its proper location.
This revolutionary breakthrough has evolved into a multi-stage approach for cleft repair that often requires a team effort from several dental and medical professionals, including oral surgeons, orthodontists and general dentists. The approach may involve successive surgeries over several years with dental care front and center to minimize the threat of decay, maintain proper occlusion (the interaction between the upper and lower teeth, or “bite”), or restore missing teeth with crowns, bridgework or eventually dental implants.
While it’s quite possible this process can span a person’s entire childhood and adolescence, the end result is well worth it. Because of these important surgical advances, a cleft defect is no longer a life sentence of misery.
If you would like more information on treatment for a cleft lip or palate, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate.”
Find Us
Dentist - Lancaster
1011 East Avenue J
661-948-8100
Request Appointment
Our office has flexible hours to fit your busy schedule
Patient Eductation

Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
Tags
- pregnancy (1)
- oral health (20)
- celebrity smiles (72)
- orthodontics (19)
- braces (14)
- clear orthodontic aligners (2)
- bridge (2)
- dental implant (2)
- tooth decay (7)
- dry mouth (1)
- impacted wisdom teeth (1)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- common symptoms (2)
- snoring and sleep apnea (1)
- diabetes (3)
- sealants (4)
- thumb sucking (3)
- pediatric dentistry (13)
- veneers (3)
- porcelain veneers (3)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental injury (5)
- smile makeover (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (9)
- dental implants (19)
- missing teeth (1)
- gap (1)
- dental exam (1)
- palatal expanders (2)
- sugar substitutes (1)
- missing tooth (1)
- replacing teeth (1)
- Night Guards (3)
- Lancaster (2)
- blood pressure (1)
- dental hygiene (2)
- oral hygiene (21)
- Invisalign (6)
- teeth whitening (2)
- oral cancer (3)
- impacted teeth (1)
- frenectomy (1)
- periodontal disease (3)
- gum disease (12)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- financing (1)
- mouthguards (3)
- Cosmetic Contouring (1)
- crown (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- headgear (1)
- clear aligners (1)
- (1)
- Full Mouth Replacement Implants (1)
- implants (1)
- orthodontic treatment (8)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- Bridges (2)
- bonding (1)
- palatal expander (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- Milk (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- mouth sensitivity (1)
- bad breath (1)
- laser dentistry (2)
- root canal treatment (3)
- gummy smiles (1)
- soda (1)
- nutrition (2)
- dentures (1)
- retainers (2)
- food (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- restorative dentistry (5)
- dental bridge (1)
- chipped tooth (3)
- teeth grinding (1)
- oral appliance (1)
- Oral Hygiene Habits (1)
- fillings (2)
- dental crowns (8)
- dental bridges (1)
- toothache (3)
- antibiotics (1)
- Root Canal (2)
- orthognathic surgery (1)
- jaw surgery (1)
- shingles (2)
- Night Guard (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- gum recession (2)
- tooth pain (2)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- tmj disorders (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- retainer (1)
- lump (1)
- Crowns and Bridges (1)
- pulp capping (1)
- medicine (1)
- baby teeth (1)