Bridge to Health continued
TEAM-BASED CARE FOR CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR
One out of every 750 infants in the United States is born
with a cleft lip or palate. A cleft lip is a split in the upper
lip, while a cleft palate is a hole in the roof of the mouth
caused by a lack of tissue fusion. Uncorrected, clefts
can cause poor psychosocial development, speech
impediments, hearing loss, and difficulty eating.
Besides plastic and oral surgeons, the multidisciplinary
cleft team includes dentists, speech pathologists, and
psychological counselors. The Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic
is