In anatomical terms, cleft is a abnormal opening in the body. A cleft lip or palate means that either (or both) of the two have a hole where none should be. The cleft can affect the upper lip, the nose, the hard palate and soft palate. Cleft of the Lip or Palate is one of the most common birth defect and as technology advances, it can even be diagnosed in utero during routine ultrasound testing. It is not only a cosmetic defect, but a functional defect that can have a physical, emotional and psychological impact on a child's life. Fortunately, due to surgical advances, a child with cleft lip or palate can, with the help of a multi-disciplinary team, live a long and fulfiilling life.
There are different types of Cleft Lip (CL) and Cleft Palate (CP), see diagrams below.
Bilateral: two sides - Bilateral Cleft of the Lip means that both the right and left sides of the lip are affected. A bilateral complete cleft of the lip and palate extends into the palate as well. It is the most severe kind of cleft because so many of the oral structures and tissues (lips, gums, palate) are missing.
Unilateral: one side - Unilateral Cleft of the Lip means that one side of the lip, usually the left, is cleft. This will cause that side of the nose to flare out and the columellar (strip that divides the nostrils) to deviate to the other side. A complete unilateral cleft of the lip and palate would indicate that the cleft extends into the palate, cutting through the gum.
Other, less severe clefts:
Submucous clefts – in contrast to cleft lip/palate, a submucous cleft can remain undetected for a while. It is found towards the back of the mouth, known as the soft palate. The soft palate is supposed to be soft because it is muscular, not bony, which enables it to move up and down to aid swallowing and speaking. A submucous cleft occurs when those muscles fail to fuse. The cleft is covered by a thin layer of tissue – which is what hides the defect.
Bifid uvula – The uvula is the thing that hangs down in the back of our throats. When the uvula is bifid - it is split. This usually indicates the presence of a submucous cleft, but not always.
There are different types of Cleft Lip (CL) and Cleft Palate (CP), see diagrams below.
Bilateral: two sides - Bilateral Cleft of the Lip means that both the right and left sides of the lip are affected. A bilateral complete cleft of the lip and palate extends into the palate as well. It is the most severe kind of cleft because so many of the oral structures and tissues (lips, gums, palate) are missing.
Unilateral: one side - Unilateral Cleft of the Lip means that one side of the lip, usually the left, is cleft. This will cause that side of the nose to flare out and the columellar (strip that divides the nostrils) to deviate to the other side. A complete unilateral cleft of the lip and palate would indicate that the cleft extends into the palate, cutting through the gum.
Other, less severe clefts:
Submucous clefts – in contrast to cleft lip/palate, a submucous cleft can remain undetected for a while. It is found towards the back of the mouth, known as the soft palate. The soft palate is supposed to be soft because it is muscular, not bony, which enables it to move up and down to aid swallowing and speaking. A submucous cleft occurs when those muscles fail to fuse. The cleft is covered by a thin layer of tissue – which is what hides the defect.
Bifid uvula – The uvula is the thing that hangs down in the back of our throats. When the uvula is bifid - it is split. This usually indicates the presence of a submucous cleft, but not always.
diagrams courtesy of wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_palate
Facts and figures
Cleft Palate has a prevalence of 6.35/10,000 live births, with 2,651 new cases annually. Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate has a prevalence of 10.63/10,000 live births, with 4,437 new cases annually. ( The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN).)
Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate happens twice as often in males, whereas a cleft of the palate alone occurs more often in females (Owens, Metz, & Haas, 2007, p. 325).
Incidence of Cleft Lip/Palate varies by ethnicity, with those of Native American descent having the highest prevalence and those of African descent, the lowest.
Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate happens twice as often in males, whereas a cleft of the palate alone occurs more often in females (Owens, Metz, & Haas, 2007, p. 325).
Incidence of Cleft Lip/Palate varies by ethnicity, with those of Native American descent having the highest prevalence and those of African descent, the lowest.