Cleft Lip and/or Palate

also known as
Cleft Lip and/or Palate

Common Description

Cleft lip and cleft palate (which can also occur together as cleft lip and palate) are variations of a type of clefting deformity caused by abnormal facial development during fetal developement .


Treatment for cleft lip and/or palate can be commenced shortly after birth.

Medical Description

Cleft Lip and Palate is the most common craniofacial deformity, occrring in 1:600 people

• Craniofacial Australia
• World Craniofacial Foundation

Our Recommendation

Cleft lip and palate is very treatable, however this treatment depends on the type and severity of the cleft. Most children with a form of clefting are monitored by a Cleft Lip & Palate team or Craniofacial team through young adulthood. Care can be lifelong. Treatment can differ between individual cases depending on the type and severity of the cleft.
There is so much information on "clefts" available, it is impossible to include all of it on one site. Professor David has published many articles and presented many lectures on "clefts" and if you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

DDMS Process and Procedure

Professor David has developed a multidisciplinary approach, from birth to maturity protocol (which has been forumulated over 30 years) to produce positive outcomes for patients with this condition. To see the protocol, click the link below:

• CLP Protocol

FAQs

Q:  Will the deformity always be obvious?
A:   The aim is to remove the stigma of the cleft by the time the patient is fully grown. The stigma of the cleft includes the way the patient looks, hears, speaks, breaths and eats.

Summary