Education & Resources

What is Cleft Lip and Palate?

Cleft palate and lip are splits occurring in the palate, lip, or both. These splits occur when an unborn baby’s face and mouth are in development and do not entirely fuse together.

Cleft Lip

Occurs when the tissue making up the lip that forms during the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy does not join completely before birth, leaving an opening that can be small or go through the lip and nose

Can be on one side, both sides, or the middle of the lip

Cleft Palate

Occurs when the tissues that make up the palate during the sixth and ninth weeks of pregnancy do not join together completely.

Some babies have the front and back parts of the palate open completely, and other babies only have part of the palate open

Causes and Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy
Specific epilepsy medications during pregnancy
Having type I or II diabetes before pregnancy
Not having enough vitamins during pregnancy, such as folate, during the first trimester

Complications

A child with a cleft lip and palate may face a variety of challenges throughout life, depending on the type and severity which includes:

Difficulty feeding
Frequent ear infections
Difficulty with speech
Dental problems due to poor development of teeth in the upper gums
Social, emotional, and behavioral problems

Prevention & Treatment

Treatment depends on severity, age, and presence of other syndromes:

Surgery to repair cleft lip should occur within the first 12 months of life
Surgery to repair cleft palate should occur within the first 18 months of life
Treatment will restore both function and aesthetic appearance with most indiviuals living happy and healthy lives

Prevention:

Genetic counseling
Prenatal vitamins
Avoiding tobacco and alcohol

FAQs

When is it diagnosed? - Sometimes a cleft defect can be diagnosed during pregnancy via a routine ultrasound. Other times, the defect is not diagnosed until birth.

What causes clefting? - The exact cause is unknown; however, clefting has been found to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors including maternal illness, maternal drug use, and maternal malnutrition.

Are there other health conditions associated with clefting? - Many clefts are isolated; however, clefting can occur with certain syndromes. Further assessment such as genetic testing must be done to rule out underlying conditions.

Who is involved in the of treatment for cleft lip and palate patients? - Management of cleft lip and palate cases involves a multidisciplinary team that can include, but is not limited to, general dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, plastic surgeons, ENTs, genetic counselors, and speech pathologists. Each case is unique and will require specific professionals to manage treatment.

Helpful Resources

Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Jan. 2026, www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/about/cleft-lip-cleft-palate.html.

“Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 Nov. 2024, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cleft-palate/symptoms-causes/syc-20370985.

Cleft lip and cleft palate: What you need to know. Cleveland Clinic. (2026, March 30). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10947-cleft-lip-cleft-palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate. | March of Dimes. (n.d.). https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/birth/cleft-lip-and-cleft-palate

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