📩 20/09/2023 14:45
Üsküdar Dental Hospital Pediatric Dentist Dr. Lecturer Member Şebnem N. Koçan gave information about the causes and treatments of cleft lip and palate in babies.
Pediatric Dentist Dr. points out the importance of the first 48 hours after birth in babies born with cleft lip and palate. Lecturer Member Şebnem N. Koçan said, “Within 48 hours after birth, an appliance is made to provide nutrition and to reduce the size of the cleft and facilitate the placement of tissues. This equipment needs to be checked at regular intervals.” said. Dr. Koçan stated that surgery can be performed when the baby is at least 10 weeks old and weighs 5 kilograms, adding that lip surgery can generally be performed between 3-6 months and palate surgery can be performed between 12-18 months.
Reminding that the structures that begin to form in the right and left areas of the head during pregnancy come together in the middle to form the face, Koçan said, “Sometimes these structures in the chin area cannot fully meet and a cleft lip and palate occurs. There is no single reason for cleft lip and palate formation. It may develop due to environmental and genetic reasons. Since it can occur due to different reasons, it is difficult to understand why cleft lip and palate develops, especially in a baby without a genetic disease. Diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy or medications used, smoking, and vitamin deficiencies may trigger the formation of cleft lip and palate. While only cleft lip or only cleft palate can be seen, it is also possible for the two conditions to develop in combination. Single or double cleft may occur.” made the statement.
High risk of middle ear infection
Pediatric Dentist Dr. Lecturer Member Şebnem N. Koçan noted that the most important problem in babies with cleft lip and palate in the first stage is feeding difficulty and said, “For this reason, appliances are made to facilitate feeding. In the future, there may be problems with speech, jaw growth, nose and lip aesthetics. Since the risk of middle ear infection is high, a doctor should be checked at regular intervals.” he said.
Surgery can be performed when the baby is 10 weeks old and weighs 5 kilograms.
Dr. Koçan continued by touching on when surgical intervention is recommended for cleft lips:
“Within 48 hours after birth, an appliance is made to provide nutrition and to reduce the size of the cleft and facilitate the placement of tissues. This equipment needs to be checked at regular intervals. Surgery can be performed when the baby is at least 10 weeks old and weighs 5 kilograms. “Usually, lip surgery is performed between 3-6 months and palate surgery is performed between 12-18 months.”
Treatment of cleft lip brings together different experts
Dr. stated that different areas of expertise should work together for the treatment of cleft lip and palate. Koçan said, “Plastic and reconstructive surgeon, orthodontist, pediatrician, pediatric dentist and speech therapist are involved in the treatment process of individuals with cleft lip and palate.” said.
Dr. also gave suggestions to parents during the baby's recovery process. Koçan concluded his words as follows:
“After surgery, feeding should be done with a spoon or dropper instead of a bottle. Keeping the wound area clean is important for infection control. Water can be given to the baby to clean the mouth after feeding. The baby should be prevented from putting his hand in his mouth and irritating the wound area. There may be slight blood leakage from the wound area for the first few days. If there are symptoms such as excessive bleeding, fever, decrease in urine, wrinkling of the skin, collapse of the eyeballs, a health institution should be consulted.