Life

Ask the Dentist: Medical advances mean cleft lip and palate outcomes have improved

Dentist Lucy Stock of Gentle Dental Care in Belfast says cleft lips and palates can be treated and that coping mechanisms for parents and children can be helpful

No-one knows what causes a cleft lip or palate in babies
No-one knows what causes a cleft lip or palate in babies No-one knows what causes a cleft lip or palate in babies

IF YOU have just found out that your child has a cleft lip or palate this may be an emotional time. Each year, about 250,000 babies worldwide are born with a cleft; this equates to about two babies a day in the UK. It’s the most common facial anomaly and is normally picked up on pregnancy scans.

A cleft happens when the upper lip or roof of the mouth doesn't join properly and a gap is left. Clefts can range from a little notch in the lip to a complete separation of the upper lip which extends up and into the nose. Often teeth are pushed out of position or missing.

Parents tend to blame themselves for the cleft; however, if you have a child with a cleft, it’s very unlikely to be because of something you did or did not do. Even with all the research, no-one knows exactly what causes a cleft. Research tells us it may be caused by a combination of different genetic and environmental factors like diabetes, smoking or certain medicines.

Every child is unique so their treatment pathway varies accordingly. A team of health-care professionals, that are often part of special NHS Cleft Teams, work together when treating a child with cleft lip and palate. The team can be made up of surgeons, speech therapists, hearing specialists and dentists.

Advances in surgical procedures mean that cleft lip and palate outcomes have improved. There are now devices that can be used to help reduce the number of surgeries that a person has to undergo. After the initial repair of the cleft, the consultant may suggest additional procedures to enhance appearance and speech as the child grows.

Brace treatment is used to align the teeth, which helps to improve speech and makes it easier to eat. Upper teeth can also be brought out with a brace or crowns to not only improve the appearance of a smile but also the facial appearance by helping to give more support to the upper lip that often sits in.

It’s most important to support the child by promoting self-esteem and reminding your child that the facial anomaly does not define him/her. Encouraging coping mechanisms in the child and integrating them into your own life as a parent can help in overcoming some of the emotional hurdles that can sometimes overwhelm patients and families living with facial differences and their treatment.