CARE4CLEFT
Our Mission
We want to help the Cleft patients bring smiles
What we offer
We strive to connect cleft patients to surgeons who can perform free surgeries and bring back their smiles.
What you can do to help
If you see or know any Cleft patients, point them to our website and ask them to register
Understanding Clefts
A cleft is a gap in the mouth or lip that occurs when the tissues that form the mouth and lips don't join together properly.
Babies with cleft lip and palate may have difficulty eating and breathing, and may experience speech and language delays as they grow older.
They may also be more likely to have ear infections, hearing loss, and problems with their teeth
Types
Unilateral: on one side.
Bilateral: on both sides.
Complete: extends all the way into the nostril.
Incomplete: does not extend up into the nostril.
Isolated: cleft lip without a cleft palate.
Diagnosis
Most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are seen right away at birth, so special tests aren't needed. Cleft lip and cleft palate are often seen on ultrasound before a baby is born.
Causes
Both genes and the environment may cause cases of cleft lip and cleft palate.
Incidences
Asians: Approximately 1 in 500 births
Caucasians: Approximately 1 in 700 births
Individuals of African descent: Approximately 1 in 1,200 births
Treatment
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.
