What's the difference between Cleft Lip and Palate?

What Is the Outlook for Children With Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate? ... A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. ... Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, affects one in 700 babies annually, and is the fourth most common birth defect in the U.S. read more

Cleft lip and cleft palate appear when the different facial features, which develop separately in utero, do not connect properly prior to birth. The palate typically closes at 10 weeks gestation, while the lip closes at between five and six weeks gestation. read more

A cleft lip refers to the incomplete or complete fusion of the upper lip skin and muscle, whereas the palate is the hard and soft tissue at the roof of the mouth. These structures are separate but can be associated with each other. read more

A cleft lip is an opening in the lip between the mouth and nose. Learn more about the causes and treatment of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate. read more