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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects. A cleft is an opening or split in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both. Cleft lip and cleft palate result when developing facial structures in an unborn baby don't close completely.
Cleft lip and cleft palate commonly occur as isolated birth defects, but are also associated with many genetic conditions.
You might feel upset when you first see your baby's cleft, but cleft lip and cleft palate can be corrected. In most babies, a series of surgeries can restore normal function and achieve a more normal appearance with minimal scarring.
- Cleft lip and cleft palate. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/14332_1210.asp. Accessed April 5, 2009.
- Moreau JL, et al. Tissue engineering solutions for cleft palates. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2007;65:2503.
- Cleft lip and palate repair. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. www1.plasticsurgery.org/ebusiness4/ProductCatalog/pdf/brochures/Cleft_Lip.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Mossey PA, et al. Cleft lip and palate. The Lancet. 2009;374:1773.
- Hoffman WY. Cleft Lip & Palate. In: Lalwani AK. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2826340&searchStr=cleft+lip#2826340. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Craniofacial abnormalities. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/see19/ch288/ch288d.html. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Burns JL. Plastic surgery (cleft lip and palate). In: Townsend CM Jr, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/1932697333/978681486/1565/708.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50077-0--cesec9_4303. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Wilkins-Haug L. Prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Stothard KJ, et al. Maternal overweight and obesity and the risk of congenital anomalies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2009;301:636.
- The school years: An introduction to psychology. Cleft Lip & Palate Association. http://www.clapa.com/news/article/901/. Accessed April 9, 2010.
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