Cleft lip and palate is seen in one of every 1000 births in the community. Lip and palate development is completed in the womb between the 4th and 12th weeks. During this period, the formation of the lip and palate region may be interrupted due to various factors. To summarize, these reasons are:
– the severe stress that the mother is exposed to,
– consanguineous marriage, familial transmission,
– mother’s exposure to radiation during pregnancy,
-drug use,
– uncontrolled drug use,
– parent’s smoking
it could be.
The most important problem with birth is nutrition. For this reason, babies born with this problem are immediately referred to the orthodontist by the physician and a nutrition plate is made by the orthodontist within 1-2 days after birth.
When the baby is about 3 months old (at least 7 kilos), lip surgery is performed. Meanwhile, the plate continues to be used.
7-8. 2nd operation in months, 3rd operation between 16-18 months, 4th operation around 8 years old, aesthetic corrections at 18 years old.
Before speaking, a speech therapist should be contacted and the baby should receive speech training, because it is very difficult for some sounds to be formed in these babies due to the gap between the mouth and nose. The earlier speech therapy is started, the easier it is for the baby to learn to pronounce words correctly and speak clearly.
The second meeting with the orthodontist should be around 5-6 years old, and this association should continue until the permanent teeth erupt properly. Because, although the operations performed in infancy are very successful in children born with this disorder, problems are frequently experienced in the eruption of the teeth in the cleft area and the development of the jaw. In patients with cleft lip and palate; Lack of teeth in the cleft line, upper jaw narrowness, upper jaw retardation, position disorders in the teeth may be seen due to the cleft line. With orthodontic treatment, position disorders in the teeth can be corrected in a timely manner.
Treatment team;
-child doctor,
-orthodontist,
-dentist,
-maxillofacial surgeon,
-plastic surgeon,
-ear-nose-throat specialist,
-speech therapist,
– psychiatrist,
-pedodontist (pediatric dentist),
– consists of a prosthodontist (dental prosthesis doctor).
Apart from cleft lip and palate, some congenital anomalies and syndromes can also cause disorders and incompatibilities in teeth and jaws. Apert syndrome, Cruson syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, oculofaciocardiodental syndrome, Marfan syndrome, craniofacial synocytosis are the most prominent of these congenital anomalies. For this reason, one of the most important stages of the treatment of aesthetic problems caused by such syndromes is orthodontic treatment. Just like babies with cleft lip and palate, children born with these syndromes should consult an orthodontist from the age of 5-6 and start their treatment at the most appropriate time.
