Will our baby's teeth grow properly ?

Painstaking attention should be paid in the case of a cleft lip and palate. The first and permanent teeth play a crucial role for the eventual success of an orthodontist's work. The first full orthodontic assessment occurs at around 4 years of age. If the cleft affects only the lip, the teeth will probably not be affected. The teeth will be, however, affected in the labio-alveolar cleft. For some children simple orthodontic treatment involving braces to straighten the teeth can be done and no further treatment will be needed. If there is a gap in the gum, a bone graft may be used to fill it at eight years of age. However, in most cases, expansion of the maxilla is necessary at about 8 to 10 years old. In very few cases, an osteotomy to correct a misalignment of the dental arches is necessary after puberty. In the majority of cases this surgery yields highly satisfactory results.