Cleft Lip and Palate - Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the cleft lip/palate video notes.

Cleft lip and palate

A congenital split in the upper lip and/or palate caused by embryologic disturbance during facial development.

Embryologic disturbance

Interruption in normal facial development during embryogenesis that can result in clefting.

Globular process

A facial projection that must fuse with the maxillary process to form the lip; failure to fuse can cause cleft lip.

Maxillary process

The facial process forming part of the upper jaw and palate; must fuse with the globular process for normal development.

Premaxilla

The anterior part of the maxilla containing the primary incisors; involved in early palate development.

Uvula

Midline projection at the back of the soft palate marking completion of palate development.

Etiology

The cause or origin of cleft lip/palate, often due to incomplete fusion during embryology.

Lip formation weeks

Lip forms during weeks 4–7 of gestation; clefts may be visible by week 8.

Palate formation weeks

Palate forms during weeks 8–12; clefts may be observed by week 12.

Risk factors

Factors increasing cleft risk, including genetics, nutrition, drugs, metabolic disease, and radiation.

Genetic risk

Family history and advanced maternal age linked to higher cleft risk.

Vitamin A

Nutritional factor associated with cleft risk; balance of vitamin A intake is important.

Folic acid

B vitamin important for craniofacial development; deficiency linked to clefts.

Drugs

Recreational or prescribed medications that can increase cleft risk.

Diabetes

Metabolic disease associated with higher cleft risk.

Ionizing radiation

Exposure to ionizing radiation during pregnancy increases cleft risk.

Feeding issues

Infants with clefts may have difficulty feeding due to impaired suction and latch.

Middle-ear infections

Common in cleft patients due to Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Speech

Speech development can be affected and may require therapy.

Hearing loss

Increased risk of conductive hearing loss from recurrent ear infections.

Malocclusion

Misalignment of teeth and bite common in cleft patients.

Open palate

A cleft that leaves an opening between oral and nasal cavities.

Oronasal fistula

Abnormal tract between the oral and nasal cavities requiring closure.

Alveolar graft

Bone grafting of the alveolar cleft to support teeth and dentition.

Bone grafting

Surgical transplantation of bone to repair palatal or alveolar defects.

Autogenous bone

Bone harvested from the patient (e.g., rib, hip) for grafting.

Osseointegrated implant

Titanium implant integrated with bone to support prosthetic teeth.

Prosthodontics

Dental specialty providing prosthetic devices for cleft patients (obturators, bridges).

Obturator

Removable prosthesis that closes a palatal defect and aids function.

Speech aid prosthesis

Prosthesis designed to improve speech by assisting velopharyngeal closure.

Mixed dentition

Period when both primary and permanent teeth are present during growth.

Functional occlusion

A functional bite achieved through alignment and proper jaw relations.