Introduction
- A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth), and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof of the mouth).
- A cleft palate may also vary in size, from a defect of the soft palate only to a complete cleft that extends through the hard palate
- It can be unilateral or bilateral and it’s more serious than cleft lip
Incidence
- About 1 out of 2,500 people have a cleft palate.
- Compared to boys, girls are commonly affected.
Causes
- The exact cause is unknown.
- Cleft occurs as part of a syndrome.
- Genetic and familial
- Environmental factors
- Use of certain medications,
- Exposure to cigarette smoke, or
- lack of certain vitamins.
- Toxin while pregnant
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