How do cleft lip and palate occur?
Each of us had a cleft lip and cleft palate when in utero (in our Mother’s womb). During the early weeks of pregnancy the lip and palate normally fuse together. The lip forms the “Cupid’s Bow”, which is found under the nose, and the palate forms the ridge and pale line in the middle of the roof of the mouth. If your child has a cleft, the fusion of the lip and/or palate fail to fuse together during development. Why does the fusion of the palate fail to happen? Cleft lip and/or palate occur in approximately 1 in 700 births. In most cases, the reason for the cleft(s) is unknown. Known causes are due to genetics, smoking, alcohol, substance abuse etc.; unknown causes may include environmental reasons. Heredity (or genetics) plays an important role in some families. Clefts can appear in one or several family members. Cleft lips occur more often in boys and cleft palates occur more often in girls. Asians are more affected than Caucasians; clefts are least common in persons of African descen
