Cleft Lip & Palate

A cleft lip occurs when the left and right sides of the upper lip fail to fuse, resulting in a gap or split. The severity can vary from a small notch to a complete separation that extends into the nose. Key points include:

• Types of Cleft Lip
  • Unilateral Cleft Lip: Involves a gap on one side of the lip.
  • Allografts: Bone obtained from a tissue bank, prepared from cadaver sources to safely stimulate new bone growth.
  • Bilateral Cleft Lip: Affects both sides of the lip.

A cleft in the gum may accompany a cleft lip, ranging from a minor notch to a complete division of the gum tissue. For more detailed information on facial development and oral health, visit our Patient Information page.

• Functional Challenges:
  • Difficulty swallowing and proper speech due to air escaping through the nose.
  • Increased risk of food and liquids entering the nasal cavity.
• Range of Severity:
  • A cleft palate can vary from a small opening at the back of the soft palate to a nearly complete separation of both the hard and soft palate

Treatment Options
Early and effective treatment of cleft lip and palate is crucial for a child’s feeding, speech, and psychological development. At Desert Maxillofacial, our experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons, including Dr. Milan J. Jugan, offer a range of surgical treatments tailored to the individual needs of each child.

When the jaw ridge has reabsorbed to a point where it is too thin for conventional implants, a ridge expansion procedure may be recommended.

• Surgical Repair:
  • Typically performed when the child is around ten months old, cleft lip surgery aims to:
  • Close the separation in the lip.
  • Restore muscle function.
  • Enhance facial aesthetics.
• Nostril Correction:
  The procedure may also improve nostril shape, with additional surgery recommended if necessary.

• Primary Palate Repair:
  • Generally performed between 7 to 18 months of age, this surgery focuses on:
  • Closing the gap between the mouth and the nose.
  • Reconnecting the palate muscles for proper function.
  • Ensuring the repaired palate is long enough to perform its essential role in speech and swallowing.
• Hard Palate Repair:
  • Often performed between 8 and 12 years of age—when the cuspid teeth begin to develop—or later in teenagers or adults. This procedure may involve:
  • Harvesting bone from donor sites (such as the hip) to fill bony defects.
  • Closing the communication between the nose and the gum in multiple layers.
  • Combining with corrective jaw surgery when needed.