Cleft and Craniofacial Program
One of the Leading Programs in the Nation
Our Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Program provides comprehensive, coordinated care for children with Cleft Palate, Cleft Lip, Robin Sequence and all related craniofacial conditions. Our multidisciplinary, team approach brings together specialists from plastic surgery, ENT, orthodontics, neurosurgery, anesthesia and many other specialties. Our center is accredited by the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) and has the resources and support of nationally ranked, free standing children's hospital.
Our clinics are available in multiple locations along the Wasatch Front and can even be accessed from longer distances through telehealth clinics. We provide care to children from across the country and are contracted with nearly all insurance plans.
What Sets Us Apart
Utah's Longest Running, Most Experienced Cleft Program
Combined, our providers have more than 80 years of experience and perform, on average, 350 cleft and craniofacial surgeries each year.
Nationally Accredited Program for More Than 20 Years
Our program is accredited by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and has been for 20 consecutive years. This accreditation ensures that teams are comprised of experience professionals that coordinate care with the proper sequencing of evaluations and treatments.
All Providers Are Board Certified/Eligible and Fellowship Trained in Pediatric Subspecialties
We are the only program in Utah where every provider in our center is board certified/eligible and fellowship trained in pediatric specialties. Children are not just little adults, so having this additional training and expertise in crucial to cleft and craniofacial treatment.
Innovative Care with the Latest Research
Our partnership with University of Utah Health ensures that your child will receive the most innovative, evidenced-based care available.
Expertise and Care of Nationally Ranked Children's Hospital
Primary Children's is 1 of 24 children's hospitals in the country to rank as a best children's hospital in all 10 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. Care in our programs, gives your child access to more than 800 experienced pediatric providers across 60 specialties.
Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip (with or without cleft palate)
Initial Evaluation
It is important that your newborn is evaluated upon birth by a feeding specialist and within the first week of life by our craniofacial surgeons and craniofacial orthodontist to determine if preoperative treatment with lip taping and nasoalveolar molding (NAM) need to be initiated. The goal of the molding is to make the gap in the lip smaller and improve the shape of the nose. This will make cleft lip repair easier and likely allow getting a better result.Surgery Timing
Feeding
Feeding a baby with a cleft lip or palate is different.
With cleft lip and/or palate, the infant:- Can't create a seal with the lip and tongue to latch onto the nipple.
- Can't push the tongue and nipple against the roof of the mouth to create suction.
- Can't move milk to swallow it.
There are specialized bottles and nipples to help babies with cleft lip/palate feed. Specialists at the hospital where the baby is born can help parents learn how to feed their babies using these specialized bottles and nipples. You can contact the Cleft Nurse Coordinator at 801-662-1630 if you have questions about feeding, the specialized bottles and nipples, or concerns about how your baby is feeding.
Conditions We Treat
Cleft Lip and Palate related conditions
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Pierre Robin Sequence
- Also called Pierre Robin Sequence, this disorder presents with an abnormally small lower jaw, cleft palate (roof of mouth) and possible airway obstruction from the tongue position in the back of the mouth.
- Stickler Syndrome
- A genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue of the body. Children with this syndrome will often have problems with vision, hearing, face and skeleton development and cleft palate (opening in the roof of the mouth).
- Van der Woude Syndrome
- This syndrome is caused by a mutation in the IRF6 gene and is a common inherited form of cleft lip and/or palate (opening in the lip and/or the roof of the mouth). Children with Van der Woude Syndrome have lower lip pits (mound of tissue with hole in center) and cleft lip, cleft palate or both.
- 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Craniofacial conditions that affect facial and ear development
- Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum
- Treacher Collins Syndrome
- Nager Syndrome
- A rare genetic condition that mainly affects the development of the face, hands and arms. The cheek bones are underdeveloped and the lower jaw is very small. Many children will have a cleft palate (opening in the roof of the mouth). The severity of the disorder varies from child to child.
- Craniofacial (Hemifacial) Microsomia
- This condition can range from mild to severe and causes half of the face to be underdeveloped and look different from the unaffected side. The ear and lower jaw are most commonly affected.
Craniosynostosis syndromes and related conditions
- Apert Syndrome
- A genetic disorder that affects how the bones of the skull and face are shaped and grow. Craniosynostosis, which is early closure of the sutures (seams) that separate the bones of the skull, is also seen. The child will also have fusion of the digits of the hands and feet (syndactyly).
- Crouzon Syndrome
- A genetic disorder that affects how the bones of the skull and face are shaped and grow. Craniosynostosis, which is early closure of the sutures (seams) that separate the bones of the skull, is also seen.
- Pfeiffer Syndrome
- In this syndrome, abnormalities of the bones of the skull, face, hand and feet are seen. Craniosynostosis is the early closure of the sutures (seams) that separate the bones of the skull.