What is cleft lip and palate?
A cleft lip and palate is a birth disorder that can cause significant eating, breathing, hearing, speech development, and dental health problems. A cleft lip and palate is a combination of both an upper lip that has not grown together neatly with the mouth, as well as an opening in the roof of the mouth. It can occur due to an inherited mutation from one parent, or it may be caused by an environmental factor that affects both parents. A cleft lip and palate can be repaired through surgery to close the opening in the roof of the mouth. Dr. Amit Mulay is a renowned cleft palate specialist in Pune.
Types of cleft lip and palate
Types of Cleft lip
The three types of the cleft lip are discussed below:
Unilateral
The most common type is the unilateral cleft lip. A unilateral cleft lip is the one in which there is an opening in the upper lip on one side of the face.
Bilateral
In a bilateral cleft lip, there are two gaps on both sides of the mouth. It is less common than a unilateral cleft type.
Complete
The Complete cleft lip is rarer and only affects a small number of infants. In this case, the cleft extends from the lip into the nose.
Types of Cleft palate
Given below are the two types of the cleft palate as discussed by a cleft palate specialist, Pune:
Lingual
A person with a lingual cleft has an opening in the roof of their mouth on the tongue side.
Labial
The labial cleft has an opening on the lip side. It occurs when there’s an opening in the lower lip that goes through to the roof of the mouth.
Cleft lip and palate treatment
According to a cleft palate specialist, Pune, the most prevalent treatment for cleft lip and palate is surgical intervention. Cleft lip and palate surgery is an invasive surgery that typically lasts between 3-6 hours.
The procedure may be performed on a child who has not yet reached the age of 10, but the child needs to have reached a certain developmental age. The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and can be done as an outpatient procedure if just the lip requires correction.
Given below are the two stages involved in a routine surgery for cleft lip and palate treatment, Pune:
Stage 1:
The first stage of cleft lip and palate surgery is to create a new roof for the patient’s mouth. Next, the plastic surgeon moulds the tissues. They then stitch the new lip to the roof of the mouth and close up any remaining gaps with stitches or staples.
Stage 2:
The second stage is a palate repair procedure which will allow for normal speech development. The surgeon will cut the palate and push it up to close any gaps, then stitch or staple the new lip to the repaired palate.
Why choose Dr.Amit Mulay for cleft lip and palate treatment?
Dr. Amit Mulay has been providing surgical solutions to children with cleft lip and palate in India for almost 20 years. He is a pioneer of the procedure in the country, working through his organisation to provide free surgeries for those who cannot afford it. He has helped more than 1,000 children to this date. So if you are looking for cleft lip and palate treatment in Pune, you can book your appointment with Dr. Mulay.