What is cleft lip and palate?
Cleft lip and palate are two separate but related conditions which can occur together. A cleft is a gap or split which can affect one or both sides of the upper lip and usually extends to the base of the nose. A cleft palate is a gap in the roof of the mouth that connects the mouth directly with the nasal cavity.
Clefts of the lip and/or palate are among the commonest congenital problems, affecting one in 700 babies born in the UK each year. A child is 25 to 40 times more likely to have one of these conditions if either parent has had a cleft. However, in most cases it occurs spontaneously.
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