Children with a cleft lip or cleft palate are more likely to receive recommended age-appropriate health care when that care is provided by an interdisciplinary team rather than an individual provider. In a study encompassing three states, Arkansas, Iowa and New York, 24% of participants were not receiving team care…

Cleft palate has been linked to dozens of genes. During their investigation of one of these genes, researchers were surprised to find that cleft palate occurs both when the gene is more active and when it is less active than normal.

Cleft palate has been linked to dozens of genes. During their investigation of one of these genes, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis were surprised to find that cleft palate occurs both when the gene is more active and when it is less active than normal. They say the finding suggests this gene and processes closely associated with it are central to palate development and could become important targets for investigators seeking nonsurgical treatments to prevent cleft palate before birth…

Craniofacial surgeons around the world are striving toward a critical goal: making high-quality cleft palate and craniofacial reconstructive surgical services available to children in developing countries.