Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital conditions that occur when the tissues of the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth do not fuse properly during fetal development.

A cleft lip appears as a split or opening in the upper lip. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth. Treatment typically involves surgical correction, starting as early as a few months after birth.