Can Cleft Lip and Palate Be Prevented?
Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, affects approximately one in every 1,000 newborn infants. It is a craniofacial, oral, and dental birth defect in which there is an opening in a structure around the mouth and face. The causes of this problem are both environmental and genetic. Pregnant women may reduce the risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in their babies by: • Obtaining early and regular prenatal care • Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes • Avoiding medications which cause clefts • Avoiding infections • Taking adequate folic acid supplements In the United States, a child is born every hour and 15 minutes with cleft lip, with or without cleft palate (CL/P). Twenty percent of these deformities are due strictly to genetic causes. Cleft palate (CP) alone is a separate entity, with a unique origin, and occurs in about 1 of 2,000 babies. Children with oral-facial clefts will require the assistance of a team of specialists, which includes: a pediatrician, plastic surgeon, pediatric de
