What is the usual treatment for cleft palate?
A cleft palate usually is repaired with surgery called palatoplasty (PAL-eh-tuh-plass-tee) when the baby is 10–12 months old. The goals of palatoplasty are to: Close the opening between the nose and mouth. Help create a palate that works well for speech.
At what age should cleft palate be repaired?
Cleft Palate Repair A cleft palate usually is repaired with surgery called palatoplasty (PAL-eh-tuh-plass-tee) when the baby is 10–12 months old. The goals of palatoplasty are to: Close the opening between the nose and mouth. Help create a palate that works well for speech.
What problems can result from a cleft palate?
While most babies with cleft lip can breast-feed, a cleft palate may make sucking difficult. Ear infections and hearing loss. Babies with cleft palate are especially at risk of developing middle ear fluid and hearing loss. Dental problems.
What are the long term effects of cleft palate?
Cleft palate alone was associated with elevated risks for death (hazard ratio, 3.4), intellectual disability (relative risk, 11.5), anxiety disorders (RR, 2.9), autism spectrum disorders (RR, 6.6), severe learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and musculoskeletal disorders, when compared with the unaffected …
How long does a cleft palate repair take?
Fast Facts About Cleft Palate Repair This surgery usually takes between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the type of cleft palate repair your child needs. Your child will stay overnight for at least 1 day after the surgery.
Under what circumstances might a person have a cleft palate?
Cleft lip and cleft palate result when facial structures that are developing in an unborn baby don’t close completely. Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects. They most commonly occur as isolated birth defects but are also associated with many inherited genetic conditions or syndromes.
What are the treatment options for cleft lip and palate?
Treatment Options 1 The Importance of Early Treatment. A child born with a cleft lip and/or palate can begin early treatment to enable the restoration of as normal an appearance as possible before 2 Cleft Lip Repair. 3 Cleft Palate Repair. 4 Alveolar Bone Grafts. 5 Velopharyngeal Insufficiency. …
How long does it take to repair a cleft palate?
Just as in cleft lip, cleft palate may appear on one or both sides of the upper mouth. The soft palate may be repaired at the time of lip repair if it is involved, also. This is usually done at 3 months.
What does it mean when a child has a cleft palate?
In some children, a cleft palate may involve only a tiny portion at the back of the roof of the mouth; for others, it can mean a complete separation that extends from front to back. Just as in cleft lip, cleft palate may appear on one or both sides of the upper mouth.
When to insert Latham Device for cleft palate?
To move the gums and palate into a closer position, presurgical orthopedics are often recommended. In most cases, this is a Latham-type appliance. A dentist inserts this device in the operating room when a child is around 2 or 3 months old.
How long does a cleft palate repair take to heal?
Give your body time to heal. It may take six months just for the swelling to completely go down, and scars will fade over time. Be gentle with yourself during this time.
What are the risks of untreated cleft palate?
- including misaligned or malformed teeth
- Speech problems
- due to fluid not draining properly from the ears
- Impaired hearing
- Speech problems
- Fluids can enter the nasal cavity while drinking
How are cleft palates repaired?
The only way to repair a cleft palate is by surgery. The goal is to close the opening in the roof of the child’s mouth. Your child will be in the operating room for only a few hours. The hospital stay is usually 1 to 3 days.
How much does cleft palate surgery cost?
Typical costs: Without health insurance, cleft lip and/or palate surgery typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 or more per surgery; if the child has both a cleft lip and a cleft palate, two surgeries typically are required for a total of $10,000 to $20,000.
Is cleft palate special needs?
Cleft Lip/Palate: Clefts occur as gaps or openings in the lip, palate, or both. The gaps are a result of incomplete closure when the baby’s facial structures were developing before birth. A cleft lip and/or palate may be classified as unilateral or bilateral.
What stage of pregnancy does cleft palate develop?
Cleft lip and cleft palate happen very early in pregnancy. Your baby’s lips form between 4 and 7 weeks of pregnancy, and the palate forms between 6 and 9 weeks of pregnancy.
How long does a cleft palate surgery take?
This surgery usually takes between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the type of cleft palate repair your child needs. Your child will stay overnight for at least 1 day after the surgery.
