A cleft lip or cleft palate that extends into the upper gums (where top teeth develop) can cause your baby to have certain dental problems, including:
- Missing teeth
- Too many teeth
- Oddly shaped teeth
- Teeth that are out of position around the cleft
Every baby with a cleft lip or palate should get regular dental checkups by a dentist with experience taking care of children with oral clefts. Dental problems caused by cleft lip or palate usually can be fixed. If needed, your baby can get ongoing care by a team of experts, including:
- A dentist
- An orthodontist to move teeth using braces
- An oral surgeon to reposition parts of the upper jaw, if needed, and to fix the cleft
See also:
Cleft lip and cleft palate
