Cleft Lip/Palate

Cleft Lip/Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital defects which are caused by abnormal facial development during gestation period. Cleft lip and cleft palate are also known as cheiloschisis and palatoschisis. The ratio of the occurrence of these disorders is very less i.e. 1 out of every 700 has been recorded..For more details,please log in to www.aesthetica.co.in

The causes of the occurrence of cleft lip and cleft palate are mainly genetic and environmental factors. In the initial two months of pregnancy, the head of the embryo is formed. When the primitive tissue lobes fail to join in the initial stages then the cleft lip and palate formation occurs. Here, front nasal, maxillary and mandibular prominences fail to function to their best. Due to this the formation of upper lip, lower lip or cheeks can occur. Greater is the failure of the fusion of these tissue lobes, more is the severity of the cleft lip and palate. This can be seen at the time of the birth of the child. The formation of palate is the last step of the fusion of the primary tissue lobes and this makes this step vulnerable to various environmental factors the mother faces, nutritional imbalance of the mother as well as pollutants in the atmosphere.

The signs and symptoms of cleft lip and palate are quite easily seen. The cleft is actually present from the upper lip and does not affect the lower lip. Unilateral incomplete type of cleft lip and palate does not reach up to the nose and affects the upper lip and middle area in between the upper lip and nostrils. Unilateral complete type extends up to the nostrils thereby creating a prominent cleft on one side. Bilateral complete type extends to both the nostrils thereby creating a combination of two clefts.

Cleft lip and palate complications actually cause much difficulty for the newborn. Due to the difference in the normal features of the lip and palate the baby has difficulty in sucking the milk as there he cannot put proper suction force. So, the baby is provided with customized bottle feeders and made to sit so that with the help of gravitational force he can take the milk. Cleft lip and palate are associated with the hearing problems. In many of the patients, the Eustachian tubes are affected so as the baby cannot hear he is unable to try and speak till proper treatment is done at the right time.

Treatment of cleft lip and palate is done by experienced dentists and surgeons. The main aim is to bring the normal features of the cleft lip and palate. In this way, the patient will gain self confidence and esthetic features will be created. Kindergarten rhinoplasty i.e. nose surgery is the most recommended procedure for curing cleft lip and palate. Also, orthodontic intervention, alveolar bone grafts, jaw surgery, implants and bridges are the treatment procedures which are carried out ..