Cleft lip and Cleft palate
James Richardson
What is a cleft lip and or palate?
The two are facial and oral malformatoins. Clefting results when there is not enough tissue in the mouth or lip area and the tissue they do have does not join together. Cleft palate is when the tissue at the roof of the mouth leave a hole because there is not enough of it to cover. Cleft lip is when there is not enough tissue to join the lip leaveing a split. Both of thease can occur on both side of the mouth.
Is it genetic?
The cause of the two malformatoins is mostly unknown and it cannot be prevented.
What are the symptoms?
There are no symptoms because it is a defect the child is born with.
Is there a cure?
The only cure is surgery. For cleft lip surgery, the surgeon will trim the tissues and sew the lip together, the stiches are small and for the most part will absorb into the tissue as the scar heals. Cleft palate surgery is mostly the same except the top palate will be moved over to cover the soft palate.