Cleft Lip and Palate in Children: Classification and Treatment

Orofacial clefts are one of the most common head and neck birth defects worldwide, affecting children of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Orofacial clefts refer to a cleft lip and palate, a complex trait caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Children with orofacial clefts commonly have various issues, such as learning difficulties, speech and language disorders, middle ear abnormalities, psychosocial problems, and dental abnormalities. Due to the complex nature of a cleft lip/palate, the treatment involves interdisciplinary teams, including plastic surgeons, pediatric dentists, maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and speech therapists. Dental and orthodontic procedures are required at an early age (9 months to one year of age) to aid normal facial and dental development and prepare the patient for surgery later. The main treatment goals in cleft lip and palate cases are to maintain the natural anatomical form of the lips and palate to ensure everyday speech without hypernasality. An additional goal is to ensure normal psychosocial development. 

Keywords: Birth defects, Cleft lip, Cleft palate, Dental abnormalities, Orofacial clefts, Psychosocial development.