Cleft Lip Surgeon in Chicago

The Center for Disease Control recently estimated that, each year in the United States, about 2,650 babies are born with a cleft palate and 4,440 babies are born with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate. Isolated orofacial clefts, or clefts that occur with no other major birth defects, are one of the most common types of birth defects in the United States. If you or your child require oral surgery to fix a cleft lip, then it’s time you consult Chicago’s best oral surgeons at Northwestern Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, PC.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects commonly are called “orofacial clefts”. Children with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate or a cleft palate alone often have problems with feeding and speaking clearly and can have ear infections. They also might have hearing problems and problems with their teeth. A completely formed lip is important not only for a normal facial appearance but also for sucking and to form certain sounds made during speech. Cleft lip surgery is usually performed when the child is about ten months old. The goal of surgery is to close the separation, restore muscle function, and provide a normal shape to the mouth. The nostril deformity may be improved as a result of the procedure or may require a subsequent surgery. After the palate has been fixed, children will immediately have an easier time in swallowing food and liquids.

If you would like to learn more specifically about surgically fixing a cleft lip, we recommend that you visit our practice’s main website to browse through some additional, detailed information that you might find useful. If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding oral surgery, or any of our other services, please do not hesitate to contact the staff here directly. At Northwestern Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, PC, we invite you to come to our practice of Chicago’s best oral surgeons and receive the quality attention that you deserve.

Northwestern Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, PC
676 N. St. Clair Suite 520
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 985-9279

Tags: 60611, Cleft Lip Surgeon, Oral Surgery Office