What Is a Complete Cleft Lip and Palate?
Some infants have clefts of both the lip and the palate. The cleft lip is called “complete” when it extends through the entire lip into the nose. A cleft palate is called “complete” when the separation in the roof of the mouth extends toward the front teeth and through the gum line. A baby with complete cleft lip and palate has many additional problems which we address in our treatment plan. How Are My Child’s Ears Affected by Cleft Lip and Palate? The infant with a cleft lip and palate frequently develops chronic ear fluid and infection. Infections are initially treated with antibiotics. If infections cannot be controlled with medication, or if a hearing loss is detected, the baby may need placement of drainage tubes inserted in the ear at the same time as the lip or palate repair. How Many Operations Will My Baby Need? In the first year of life there will be one or two operations. The first occurs around three months of life. This operation, called a cleft lip repair, is done to clos
