What is a cleft palate?
A cleft palate is a split in the palate (the roof of the mouth).
What causes a cleft palate?
The fetal palate is formed between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation. During this time, the bones and muscles on either side of the upper jaw begin to grow and fuse in the midline to form the roof of the mouth and the base of the nasal cavity. If the bones and muscles do not fuse completely, a cleft palate is formed.
Like cleft lip, cleft palate is genetically linked. In particular, simple cleft palate is more likely to occur in a family with multiple patients.
Are all cleft palates the same?
No. The palate is made up of two parts, the bony part at the front of the roof of the mouth called the hard palate and the muscular part at the back called the soft palate. The soft palate is closely related to speech. The cleft can involve only the soft palate, or both the hard and soft palates.
How is cleft palate diagnosed?
An ultrasound during pregnancy can detect a cleft palate as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy. The exact diagnosis is confirmed by a detailed physical examination by a plastic surgeon after birth. Simple cleft palate Cleft lip with cleft palate