what causes cleft palate and lip

What is the cure for cleft lip?

Most cleft palates seem to be caused by environmental factors that increase a mother’s risk of giving birth to a child with a cleft palate. These factors include: exposure to German measles (Rubella) or other infections; certain medications; alcohol and drug usage; cigarette smoking; certain vitamin deficiencies, especially during early pregnancy

What are the side effects of cleft palate?

The cause of cleft palate and lip isn’t known, but doctors believe that the defects occur because of both genetic and environmental factors. Genetics can play a role in the development of clefts if...

Is cleft palate a fatal disorder?

The exact cause of cleft lip and cleft palate is not completely understood. Cleft lip and/or cleft palate are caused by multiple genes inherited from both parents, as well as environmental …

How long does recovery take after adult cleft lip repair?

Vitamin deficiency (folic acid) Smoking during pregnancy. Substance abuse. The condition may also occur as a result of exposure to viruses or chemicals while the baby is in the womb. In …

What foods can cause a cleft lip?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Pregnant women who eat a meat-rich, fruit-poor diet may be doubling their baby's likelihood of being born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, Dutch researchers report.

Can cleft lip and palate be prevented?

You can't always prevent cleft lip and cleft palate in your baby. But there are things you can do to help reduce your baby's chances of having these birth defects: Take folic acid. Before pregnancy, take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid in it every day.

What environmental factors cause a cleft lip?

Environmental Factors certain medications. alcohol and drug usage. cigarette smoking. certain vitamin deficiencies, especially during early pregnancy.

Can lack of folic acid cause cleft palate?

Lack of folic acid early in pregnancy is known to cause neural tube defects such as spina bifida, but this is the first study ever to show a strong association between maternal folic acid intake and the risk of a baby developing cleft lip and cleft palate.

Does folic acid deficiency cause cleft palate?

Researchers examined the association between clefts and mother's folic acid supplement intake. They found that when mothers took a supplement of 0.4 mg of folic acid or more, the risk of an isolated cleft lip and palate was reduced by about one-third.

Do cleft palates run in families?

Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including: Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft.

What causes a cleft palate during pregnancy?

Causes and Risk Factors Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, or certain medications she uses during pregnancy.

Is cleft palate genetically inherited?

The etiology of cleft palate only is multifactorial and involves both genetic and environmental risk factors.

Why do babies have cleft lips?

Causes. Cleft lip and cleft palate occur when tissues in the baby's face and mouth don't fuse properly. Normally, the tissues that make up the lip and palate fuse together in the second and third months of pregnancy. But in babies with cleft lip and cleft palate, the fusion never takes place or occurs only part way, leaving an opening (cleft).

What is a cleft lip?

Cleft lip. Cleft lip. A cleft lip is an opening or split in the upper lip that occurs when developing facial structures in an unborn baby don't close completely. Cleft lip may be unilateral or bilateral. A baby with a cleft lip may also experience a cleft in the roof of the mouth (cleft palate). Cleft palate.

How to tell if you have a split in your lip?

Symptoms. Usually, a split (cleft) in the lip or palate is immediately identifiable at birth. Cleft lip and cleft palate may appear as: A split in the lip and roof of the mouth (palate) that affects one or both sides of the face. A split in the lip that appears as only a small notch in the lip or extends from the lip through ...

Why is speech difficult?

Speech difficulties. Because the palate is used in forming sounds, the development of normal speech can be affected by a cleft palate. Speech may sound too nasal.

What are the factors that increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip?

Several factors may increase the likelihood of a baby developing a cleft lip and cleft palate, including: Family history. Parents with a family history of cleft lip or cleft palate face a higher risk of having a baby with a cleft. Exposure to certain substances during pregnancy.

When to see a doctor for cleft lip?

When to see a doctor. A cleft lip and cleft palate are usually noticed at birth, and your doctor may start coordinating care at that time. If your baby has signs and symptoms of a submucous cleft palate, make an appointment with your child's doctor.

Where is the cleft in the mouth?

Less commonly, a cleft occurs only in the muscles of the soft palate (submucous cleft palate), which are at the back of the mouth and covered by the mouth's lining. This type of cleft often goes unnoticed at birth and may not be diagnosed until later when signs develop.

Why do people have cleft palates?

The cause of cleft palate and lip isn’t known, but doctors believe that the defects occur because of both genetic and environmental factors. Genetics can play a role in the development of clefts if one or both parents pass down a gene that makes a cleft palate or lip more likely.

What is the difference between a cleft lip and a cleft palate?

A cleft lip occurs when there is a split or opening in the lip. This opening can be small or large enough to connect the upper lip and nose. A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the mouth does not close properly during a baby’s early development inside the womb. The palate is made up of two parts, either of which can be cleft – the hard palate and the soft palate. The hard palate is a bony portion in the front of the roof of your mouth. The soft palate is located at the back of the mouth and is made up of soft tissue.

What happens if a baby has a cleft palate?

If your doctor discovers that your baby has a cleft palate or lip while in the womb, they may want to remove some of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby to have it tested for other genetic abnormalities , such as van der Woude syndrome.

How to diagnose cleft palate?

It’s possible for cleft palate and lip to be diagnosed while your baby is still in the womb through the use of an ultrasound. An ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of your baby inside your abdomen. If your doctor discovers that your baby has a cleft palate or lip while in the womb, they may want to remove some ...

How to treat cleft palate in kids?

Treatment often involves several surgeries to close the opening and reconstruct the face.

What is a cleft in the body?

being diabetic. not getting enough prenatal vitamins, like folic acid. A cleft can occur as an isolated birth defect or as part of a larger genetic syndrome, such as van der Woude syndrome or velocardiofacial syndrome, which are both genetic malformation disorders.

How many babies are born with cleft palate?

Cleft palate and cleft lip, also referred to as orofacial defects, are birth defects that affect more than 7,000 babies in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trusted Source.

What causes a cleft lip?

Other factors that can contribute to development of a cleft include: The condition may also occur as a result of exposure to viruses or chemicals while the baby is in the womb. In other situations, cleft lip and cleft palate may be part of another medical condition.

What is a cleft lip?

A cleft results when the tissues do not join together properly. A cleft lip is a physical separation of the two sides of the upper lip, and appears as a narrow or wide opening or gap in all layers of the upper lip. This separation can include the gum line or the palate. A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth.

What is a cleft lip and palate team?

Because of the number of oral health and medical problems associated with a cleft lip or cleft palate, a team of doctors and other specialists usually works together to develop a plan of care for each patient. Members of a cleft lip and palate team usually include:

How many babies have cleft palate?

Cleft lip and/or cleft palate affects 1 in 1,000 babies every year, and is the fourth most common birth defect in the United States. Clefts occur more often in children of Asian descent. Twice as many boys as girls have a cleft lip, both with and without a cleft palate.

How many children with cleft palate need surgery?

About 30-40 percent of children with a cleft palate need further surgeries to help improve their speech. Speech is usually assessed between ages 4 and 5. Often a nasopharyngeal scope is performed to check the movement of the palate and throat.

How often should a child with a cleft palate be checked?

To prevent fluid buildup in the middle ear, children with cleft palate usually need special tubes placed in the eardrums to aid fluid drainage, and their hearing needs to be checked once a year. This is often done at the time of palate repair.

When is the first cleft lip surgery?

The first surgery is usually performed by the time a baby is 3 months old. Several techniques can improve the outcomes of cleft lip and palate repairs when used appropriately before surgery. They are non-invasive and dramatically change the shape of the baby’s lip, nose and mouth:

Why do babies have cleft lips?

The causes of orofacial clefts among most infants are unknown. Some children have a cleft lip or cleft palate because of changes in their genes. Cleft lip and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things the mother comes in contact with in her environment, or what the mother eats or drinks, ...

When does a baby have a cleft palate?

A cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open. For other babies, only part of the palate is open.

What happens to the lip during pregnancy?

As a baby develops during pregnancy, body tissue and special cells from each side of the head grow toward the center of the face and join together to make the face. This joining of tissue forms the facial features, like the lips and mouth. A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in the upper lip. The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose. A cleft lip can be on one or both sides of the lip or in the middle of the lip, which occurs very rarely. Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.

When is cleft lip surgery recommended?

Surgery to repair a cleft lip usually occurs in the first few months of life and is recommended within the first 12 months of life. Surgery to repair a cleft palate is recommended within the first 18 months of life or earlier if possible. 8 Many children will need additional surgical procedures as they get older.

Can a cleft lip be diagnosed during pregnancy?

Diagnosis. Orofacial clefts, especially cleft lip with or without cleft palate, can be diagnosed during pregnancy by a routine ultrasound. They can also be diagnosed after the baby is born, especially cleft palate. However, sometimes certain types of cleft palate (for example, submucous cleft palate and bifid uvula) might not be diagnosed ...

Can a woman with diabetes have a cleft lip?

Diabetes―Women with diabetes diagnosed before pregnancy have an increased risk of having a child with a cleft lip with or without cleft palate, compared to women who did not have diabetes. 5

Can a child with a cleft lip have ear infections?

Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and can have ear infections. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth.

Why do babies have cleft palates?

In most cases, the cause of cleft lip and cleft palate is unknown. These conditions cannot be prevented. Most scientists believe clefts are due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There appears to be a greater chance of clefting in a newborn if a sibling, parent, or relative has had the problem.

What is a cleft lip?

A cleft lip is a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip and appears as a narrow opening or gap in the skin of the upper lip. This separation often extends beyond the base of the nose and includes the bones of the upper jaw and/or upper gum. A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth.

How often should a child with cleft palate be checked?

To prevent this from happening, children with cleft palate usually need special tubes placed in the eardrums to aid fluid drainage, and their hearing needs to be checked once a year. Speech problems. Children with cleft lip or cleft palate may also have trouble speaking.

What is the defect in the alveolar ridge?

A defect in the alveolus can (1) displace, tip, or rotate permanent teeth, (2) prevent permanent teeth from appearing, and (3) prevent the alveolar ridge from forming.

What drugs cause cleft lip?

Some drugs may cause cleft lip and cleft palate. Among them: anti- seizure /anticonvulsant drugs, acne drugs containing Accutane, and methotrexate, a drug commonly used for treating cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis. Cleft lip and cleft palate may also occur as a result of exposure to viruses or chemicals while the fetus is developing in the womb. ...

How many babies have cleft lip?

Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, affects one in 700 babies annually, and is the fourth most common birth defect in the U.S. Clefts occur more often in children of Asian, Latino, or Native American descent. Compared with girls, twice as many boys have a cleft lip, both with and without a cleft palate. However, compared with boys, twice as ...

What is the job of an oral surgeon?

An oral surgeon to reposition segments of the upper jaw when needed, to improve function and appearance and to repair the cleft of the gum

What are the factors that affect clefts?

There are a huge number of factors that affect how likely someone is to have a cleft, including race, sex, and many different environmental factors that are almost impossible to predict without a careful look at an individual’s genetic history and circumstances.

Why do children have clefts?

Most of the time, a cleft is caused by genetic and environmental factors coming together in a way which can’t be predicted or prevented. If you have a child with a cleft, it is very unlikely to be because of something you did or did not do.

How many clefts are caused by a syndrome?

Around 15% of clefts are caused by syndromes, where one or more symptoms occur all together. If a syndrome is involved, the chances of passing on a cleft is all down to the heritability of the syndrome, which in some cases can be as high as 50%.

How many people will be born with a cleft lip?

1/700 people around the world will be born with a cleft lip and/or palate, though some statistics put it closer to 1/600.

What is the likelihood of future children having a cleft?

If a parent is affected as well as their own parent, sibling or existing child, the likelihood of future children having a cleft is around 10-20%

What are the factors that can cause a baby to develop a cleft?

Environmental Factors . There have been a number of environmental factors linked to a higher chance of a baby developing a cleft. These include well-known risks in pregnancy such as smoking and heavy alcohol consumption, as well as uncontrollable factors like the baby’s position in the womb.

How much does a cleft go up?

If someone else in the family (such as an uncle or aunt) also has a cleft, this goes up to 10-12%.

What is the opening in a cleft lip?

The opening in a cleft lip can be a small slit or a large split that extends from the lip into the nose. The cleft can be on one side or both sides of the lip, or in the middle. The opening in a cleft palate may affect the front, or back, or both parts of the palate.

How many babies are born with cleft lip?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States: About 1 in every 1,600 babies is born with cleft lip with cleft palate. About 1 in every 2,800 babies is born with cleft lip without cleft palate.

What doctor treats cleft lip?

A child with cleft lip or palate is often referred to a team of experts that may include an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor), plastic surgeon, oral surgeon, speech pathologist, pediatric dentist, orthodontist, audiologist, pediatrician, nutritionist, and psychologist/social worker. Because cleft lip and palate are so often part of genetic syndromes, a thorough medical examination and genetic counseling is recommended for children and their parents to find out whether their future children may be affected.

What is the split between the right and left sides of the mouth called?

In the earliest days of a baby’s development in the womb, there is normally a split (called a cleft) between the right and left sides of the lip and the roof of the mouth (called the palate). Sometime during the 6 th to 11 th week of pregnancy, this split comes together to form the lips and mouth. If the tissue doesn’t join, it can cause a cleft lip or a cleft palate.

When is cleft lip surgery done?

Surgery is often used to close the lip and palate. Cleft lip surgery is usually done before a baby’s first birthday , and cleft palate surgery is done before 18 months. If there are other problems as they get older, a child may need additional surgeries, dental and orthodontic care, and speech therapy. With treatment, most children with cleft lip or palate do well and lead a healthy life.

When is cleft lip diagnosed?

A cleft lip may be diagnosed in pregnancy during a routine ultrasound. It will usually be visible during a baby’s first examination, although some types of cleft palate aren’t easily visible and might not be diagnosed until later in life.

Is cleft palate a birth defect?

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate is among the most common of birth defects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States:

Overview

Symptoms

Causes

Risk Factors

Complications

Prevention