A cleft palate is a common congenital facial anomaly treated by plastic surgeons. A cleft palate is identified by a gap in the roof of the mouth.
A cleft palate develops in a fetus when the two halves of the palate do not come together and fuse in the middle. In most cases, a cleft lip is also present. Cleft palate causes problems with dental development (see photo), speech, hearing, eating, and drinking. A child may also experience frequent colds, fluid in the ears, sore throat, and problems with the tonsils and adenoids.
A cleft palate is different from a cleft lip. A cleft lip affects the upper lip, whereas a cleft palate affects the roof of the mouth. Not all individuals with cleft palate have a cleft lip, and not all individuals with a cleft palate have a cleft lip. It is possible for an individual to have both a cleft lip and a cleft palate.
In this article, you will learn what a normal palate looks like. You will also learn about the different types of cleft palates –- complete versus incomplete. Complete indicates that the cleft in the palate involves the entire length of the palate. An incomplete palate involves only the back part of the palate. A cleft palate can also be unilateral or bilateral. Unilateral means the palate has a cleft on one side. Bilateral means there is a cleft on both sides of the palate.
