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Treatment of Cleft lip and palate
Treatment of cleft lip and palate babies is long term and should continue until the child reaches around 18 years of age and stops growing.
There are around ten specialist centres for treatment of cleft lip and palate children in the UK and if you have a baby with a cleft lip or palate it is likely that your maternity hospital will refer you to one of these. The specialist teams involved include:
- ENT surgeons,
- maxillo-facial surgeons,
- dentists,
- orthodontists,
- speech and language therapists,
- specialist nurses, and
- psychologists.
Surgery is the most common form of treatment for cleft lip and palate. It is often necessary to perform a number of operations as the child grows. The type of surgery required will vary on the severity of the problem.
The lip is usually operated on at about three months old. The gap in the palate is usually treated later, at around six months old. The operations are carried out in a hospital under general anaesthetic and it may be necessary to stay in hospital for three to five days.
More surgery may be needed as the child grows to improve the appearance of the lip and nose and the way the palate works. Gaps in the gum may also be filled with a bone graft.
Treatment with a speech therapist may also be necessary, as may orthodontic treatment to correct the position of the teeth.
Emotional support from specialist counsellors and psychotherapists is important throughout treatment as the process can be difficult for both parents and children.
