Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects, affecting about one in 700 infants a year in the United States. A cleft is an opening or a split in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both.               Cleft lip can affect one or both sides of the upper lip. Cleft lip and cleft palate commonly occur as isolated birth defects, but cleft lip and cleft palate also are associated with many genetic conditions.                The look of a cleft lip may be startling to you at first, but know that cleft lip and cleft palate are correctable through surgery. In most babies, doctors can correct the defect and restore normal function with minimal scarring for your child.                            Symptoms            Usually, a cleft — or split — in the lip or palate is immediately identifiable at birth. Clefts can appear as only a small notch in the lip or can extend from the lip through the upper gum and palate.                 Less commonly, a cleft occurs only in the muscles of the soft palate (submucous cleft), which is at the back of the mouth and covered by the mouth's lining. Because it's hidden, this type of cleft may not be diagnosed until later. [ Back ]

Cleft Lip Cleft Palate