Page 3 - Celtlippalate

At what age does it usually occur?

Since the onset of this problem is since birth, these
structural defects usually occur during the embryonic
development especially during the rst trimester of
pregnancy

How can we diagnose cleft lip/

palate?

A cleft lip and/or palate can be easily diagnosed
during the early stages of pregnancy itself. A prenatal
ultrasound can help determine if a cleft exists in the
oral structure of the fetus. If not, it can be easily
detected as soon as the child is born by looking at the
deformity in the oral structures.

What are the treatment options for
cleft lip/palate?

Surgery: This is the rst step of treatment in order to
correct the structural abnormalities of cleft. Smile train
India supports 100% free surgery for cleft and
comprehensive cleft care for children. In many
hospitals the surgery for correction of lip is done free of
cost. Surgery for cleft lip is done within 6 months of age
and cleft palate within one year of age. Early surgery is
required for better speech and language development.