cleft lip palate

Cleft palate and cleft lip, in which tissue in the palate or lip fails to come together properly in the early stages of development during pregnancy, can present significant challenges for children, affecting their speech and their ability to eat a typical diet. Although the two conditions...

A cleft lip occurs when a gap develops in the upper lip during fetal development. When the opening extends into the roof of the mouth, the condition is referred to as a cleft palate. A cleft can occur on one side of the mouth (unilateral)...