Clefts
Cleft lip occurs when tissues in the medial nasal and the maxillary facial processes of the fetus don’t fuse properly during the embryonic period. Cleft palate is the result of unfortunate fusion of palatal maxillary processes. It is one of the most common craniofacial anomalies that occur during birth and it comes to disrupt the happiness that the coming of a baby brings to parents. Known from the ancient times and wrapped in superstition, it was a real stigma for the family, but also for the child who was hiding all his life.
What is the frequency of clefts?
Clefts occur on average about once in every 600 births. In Cyprus around 15 babies with cleft lip/palate are born every year, while in Greece it is estimated that approximately 200-250 children are born with cleft lip/palate every year.
What causes clefts?
The lack of folic acid, smoking and alcohol during pregnancy, are referred to as causative factors in bibliography. However, the exact causes remain unknown. Simple cleft – unlike most severe syndromes – does not follow known rules of inheritance. However, quite often in the family there is a relative with the same problem.
Clefts relate with mental development?
Although in some cases cleft might be part of a more serious condition (syndrome), most of the times is not accompanied by other problems. Mental development is normal and when the restoration of appearance and functional problems is completed, the child can join the society without any problem or stigma.
Types of Clefts
Cleft lip
It is the interruption of the continuity of the lip and perhaps the alveolus, i.e. the part of the maxilla that surrounds the teeth. The cleft of the lip is rarely exactly in the middle. If the lip and/or the alveolus separates completely, the cleft is called complete, while if only part of the lip separates is called incomplete. It can be unilateral or bilateral, i.e. from one or from both sides.
Incomplete
Bilateral
Limited
Cleft Palate
It is the separation of the palate (the roof of the mouth). What applies for the cleft of the palate, except that when the cleft palate is not accompanied by cleft lip it is always in the midline and it might concern only the soft tissues or might include the bones of the hard palate as well. When there is also a cleft lip, cleft palate is usually towards the same side of the cleft lio.
Cleft lip and palate
It can be unilateral or bilateral, i.e. from one or from both sides and extends from the lip until the soft palate.
Unilateral
