Children are born every day with the many possibilities of having issues in their health. A lot of birth defects are either caused by genetic makeup, accidents, or even unhealthy habits. According to a study of the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), about 1 in every 1,700 babies have a cleft palate. In addition, many babies may have either cleft lip with a cleft palate or either of the two. Smoking, abusing substances, and even chronic illnesses also add to the possibilities of a child having this birth defect. It is important to cure cleft palate or cleft lip at an early age. Risks and issues in a child such as infection, gum disease, and even nasal problems are highly possible. You can learn more online about cosmetic or oral maxillofacial surgeons on how they do the surgical repair of cleft palate for children.
What Is A Cleft Palate?
A cleft palate is a birth defect seen in the early stages of a child’s physical development. It happens during the sixth and ninth week of pregnancy where the roof the mouth is forming. When there’s a problem with the formation of the mouth, a cleft palate happens. In the anatomy of the mouth, its roof consists of the hard palate which is mostly bones. The back of the mouth is a soft palate where soft tissues and muscles form it. There are two types of cleft palate that you can distinguish from each other. A person who has an incomplete cleft palate have cleft inside the back of the soft palate. On the other hand, if the cleft is imminent until behind the teeth and gums, it is a complete cleft palate. Surgical repair of cleft palate is advisable at an early age to avoid other surgeries and complications.
How Does A Cleft Palate Affect A Person?
With this birth issue, a child may not have the ideal way of growing up. More than an aesthetic deformity, a cleft palate is an obstruction with their overall health. A cleft palate problem bothers children when they are speaking or eating. Food and liquid aren’t consumed normally and may also go up through the nose. Moreover, the opening of a cleft palate makes the mouth prone to diseases and germs in the air. Possibilities of an impaired speech, hearing problem and growth of the child are really risky. Surgical repair of cleft palate for children needs correction between 6 to 18 months at birth. Either a cosmetic dental surgeon or an oral maxillofacial surgeon administers the surgery for this type of treatment.
Preparing For The Surgery
For The Parent
The preparation of a cleft palate surgery happens 2 weeks before the surgery date. A parent must not give any aspirin or ibuprofen to their kid since it may cause bleedings after the surgical repair of cleft palate. You will need to supply all your kid’s medical history information such as their illnesses, allergies, past surgeries, immunizations, and medicines. Moreover, it is a requirement to disclose information such as viral diseases.
For The Child
For babies and children, it is important to have the best nourishment and sleep. If a patient is already older, it is also important to orient them about their surgery. Anesthesia use with higher dosages depends according to age. A child also needs the best comfort and support while undergoing surgery. Lastly, don’t pressure your child for cooperation, but assure him or her about the success of the results.
