Cleft lip and palate occur in one in every 1000 births in society. Lip and palate development is completed between the 4th and 12th weeks of intrauterine life. During this period, various factors (consanguineous marriage, genetics, vitamin A deficiency, mother's exposure to radiation during pregnancy, drug use, uncontrolled drug use, mother or father's smoking, alcohol use, etc.) may cause cleft lip and palate.
The most important problem after birth is nutrition. At the same time, appliances are made by the orthodontist within 1-2 days following birth in order to shape the cleft palate parts, lips and nose. The purpose of shaping with this apparatus is to minimize the scar tissue that will occur during lip, nose and palate operations, and to ensure ideal aesthetics and function.
Lip surgery is performed when the baby is 3-6 months old. Meanwhile, the plate continues to be used. Palate surgery is performed at the age of 1.
Before speaking, a speech therapist should be contacted and the baby should receive speech training, because it is very difficult for these babies to produce some sounds due to the gap between the mouth and nose. The earlier speech therapy is started, the easier it will be for the baby to pronounce words correctly and learn to speak clearly.
The second meeting with the orthodontist should be around the age of 5-6, and this should continue until the permanent teeth erupt properly. In patients with cleft lip and palate; Missing teeth in the cleft line, upper jaw stenosis, upper jaw retardation, and positional disorders of the teeth due to the cleft line may be observed. With orthodontic treatment, tooth position disorders can be corrected in a timely manner. If necessary, the cleft area is repaired with bone graft during the eruption of the canine teeth.
Treatment team; It consists of a pediatrician, orthodontist, dentist, maxillofacial surgeon, plastic surgeon, ear-nose-throat specialist, speech therapist, psychiatrist, pedodontist (child dentist), and prostodontist (denture doctor).
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