Cleft Lip and Palate

Question 1

What are the classifications?

Answer 1

• Cleft LIP
• Cleft LIP and PALATE
• Cleft PALATE

Question 2

How common is CLP?

Answer 2

1 in 700 births

Question 3

What are he aetiologies for CLP

Answer 3

GENETIC

• FH
• Sex
• Syndromes

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Social
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• anti-epitleptics

Question 4

What are the implications of a unilateral CLP?

Answer 4

• Aesthetics
• Speech (affects soft palate -> nasal souding)
• Dental
• Hearing/ airway (pharyngeal arches not formed properly)

Question 5

Who are a part of the multidisciplinary team?

Answer 5

• Surgeon
• Cleft nurse
• Speech therapist
• Dental team
• ENT/ respiratory
• Geneticist
• Psychologist

Question 6

Describe the journey of a patient with UCLP

Answer 6

3-12 months = lip and palate closure
8-15 years = bone graft and ortho
18+ years = surgery

Question 7

What are the dental issues with CLP?

Answer 7

• Missing teeth (esp laterals)
• Impacted teeth (not confined to site of cleft, canine impaction 10x more likley)
• Crowding (due to scarring)
• Growth (surgery can stunt growth of max –> class III)
• Caries (higher incidence with CLP)