Cleft lips are among the most common birth defects, affecting about 1 in every 1,000 babies, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first thing most parents think of with cleft lips is the visible appearance of the lip itself. But you might not realize that it’s very common for a cleft lip to be accompanied by a cleft palate, which is a split in the roof of the mouth that opens directly to the nasal cavity. While a cleft lip is mostly cosmetic, a cleft palate can lead to frequent infections and other serious issues that could affect development. The good news is that cleft lips and palates are well-understood, and with the right intervention, your baby can experience healthy development.
At Orthodontists Associates of WNY, we support your infant with pre-surgical and post-surgical care to treat your child’s cleft lip. We use orthodontic appliances to help guide the healthy development of your child’s teeth and jaws, coordinating care with surgical specialists to address all aspects of the condition.
What Are Cleft Lips?
A cleft lip is a common type of birth defect that happens when a baby’s lip develops with a split (cleft) on one or both sides of the mouth. It forms when the upper lip fails to fully fuse during fetal development around weeks 4-7 of pregnancy. Doctors frequently identify it while the baby is still in the womb.
Many children are born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate, which is an opening in the roof of the mouth to the nasal cavity.
There isn’t one single cause of cleft lips. But we do know some risk factors associated with cleft lip, including:
- Genetic factors
- Alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy
- Certain medications taken during the first trimester
- Folic acid deficiency
Even when you avoid all of these risk factors, a baby might still be born with a cleft lip. As a result, they may have long-term issues with teeth alignment, bite issues, and missing or extra teeth.
A cleft palate can also lead to uncomfortable symptoms that may affect your child’s development later in life, such as:
- Feeding difficulties
- Frequent ear infections
- Tooth development problems
- Speech difficulties
These complications sound scary, and of course, you don’t want your child to struggle with them. Fortunately, early intervention can help set your child on the right path toward healthy oral development.
How We Treat Cleft Lips With Craniofacial Orthodontics
At Orthodontists Associates of WNY, craniofacial orthodontics is a core part of our practice. This branch of orthodontics focuses on treating conditions such as cleft lip and palate. It works alongside surgical intervention to reduce the impact of the conditions later in life.
Throughout your child’s care, we will work closely with plastic surgeons specializing in craniofacial repair to develop a treatment plan that supports your child at every stage of their journey.
Dr. Heitanen and Dr. Dusel serve on the nationally recognized Craniofacial Team at the Golisano Children’s Hospital. The center is approved by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association.
When you come in for a free consultation, we will thoroughly evaluate your child’s needs to determine the best treatment options. We’ll also show you the most effective way to clean your child’s teeth, ensuring you navigate the lip and palate appropriately. Often, we’ll recommend a Toothette® to clean hard-to-reach areas in the cleft lip.
Your child will likely need surgical intervention in the first year of their life. Specialists repair the lip around 3-6 months. Although this can feel like a lot to process, these treatments have helped many children go on to live healthy, happy lives.
After the repair, our role will be to help guide the growth of your baby’s teeth and jaws. We will use special dental appliances to help structure the palate.
Depending on their case, your child might need a second surgery between the ages of 8 and 12. This could include a bone graft to fill in the bone structure in the upper gums. To prepare the palate for the grafting procedure, we might need to correct bite issues or use palatal expanders in advance to widen the jaw. We may also align teeth with braces and replace missing teeth with prosthetics.
Early Intervention at Orthodontists Associates of WNY
We are passionate about early intervention, especially when addressing cleft lips. Early intervention improves functional outcomes, reduces the risk of complications, and supports better overall development for your child.
Specifically, early lip and palate repair enables better nutrition intake during infancy and reduces the need for long-term speech therapy later on. Additionally, orthodontic appliances support healthy dental and facial growth, reducing the need for major corrections. Overall, cleft lip and palate intervention supports better social and emotional health for your child.
At Orthodontists Associates of WNY, we want you to feel confident exploring early intervention for your child’s cleft lip. We don’t charge until treatment begins, so you can learn about your child’s best options without paying upfront.
Book a Free Consultation To Learn More About Cleft Lip Treatment
The causes of cleft lips and palates may vary, and it can be hard to isolate a single reason for their occurrence. What is clear is that early treatment plays a critical role in preventing complications later in life. At Orthodontists Associates of WNY, our team works closely with surgeons to support every stage of your child’s care. We use oral appliances and coordinated planning to guide the healthy development of your child’s teeth, bite, and jaw as they grow.
For cleft lips and other orthodontic issues, early evaluation makes all the difference. Our team is happy to help you learn about the next steps toward your child’s healthy oral development. Come in for a free consultation at any one of our seven offices across Western New York.
