Cleft Lip and Palate
Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, affects one in 700 babies annually and is the fourth most common birth defect in the United States. Cleft lip and palate can occur on one or both sides of the mouth. The baby may be born with a cleft of the lip or palate only or both together. The cleft may be total or partial. Ideally, children with clefts benefit from the services of pediatric dentists and orthodontists, speech pathologists, and a plastic surgeon for optimal care.
The lip is typically repaired at 3 months of age and the palate at 10 months of age. Both require general anesthesia. The lip repair can be done as an outpatient and the palate repair will require an overnight stay.
Dr. Chiasson has a strong interest in caring for children with clefts and appreciates an early consultation so as to be an important part of the treatment team.
Let’s work together.
