If your child has been born with a cleft lip or palate, they may in fact also have a defect of the alveolar bone – which makes up the front portion of mouth and gums. The alveolar bone is important because it also forms the sockets of the upper teeth.
If your child is born with a cleft in the alveolar bone he or she will have a hole that runs between their mouth and nose – preventing the teeth from growing properly. It is important that this condition be repaired in order to prevent your child from having eating and drainage issues as well as problems developing teeth in the future.
When planning a correction of your child’s alveolar cleft consider their age. It is typical for a child’s alveolar cleft to be corrected between the ages of 8 and 12 – depending on when the permanent teeth have emerged. A repair will involve removing bone from another area of the body, such as the hip for placement in the mouth.
Contact the Cleft and Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center today to learn more about all of your options for the repair of an alveolar cleft.