Cleft lip and palate and their consequences

Clefts of the lip, jaw and palate affect not only appearance; they can also lead to considerable functional disturbances in chewing, swallowing and speaking. Treatment is always interdisciplinary, in close coordination between the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the orthodontist, the ENT specialist, the speech therapist and the dentist. The aim of a long-term treatment concept is to normalise the appearance and to achieve a chewing apparatus that functions without complaint.