A cleft is a separation in a body structure. Clefts that occur in the oral-facial region often involve the lip, the roof of the mouth (hard palate) or the soft tissue in the back of the mouth (soft palate).

Cleft Lip

• A cleft lip is a separation of the two sides of the lip. The separation often includes the bones of the upper jaw and/or upper gum.

Bilateral cleft lip

• When a cleft lip occurs on both sides it is referred to as a bilateral cleft lip.

Unilateral cleft lip

• When a cleft lip occurs on only one side it is referred to as a unilateral cleft lip.

Cleft Palate

• A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth in which the two sides of the palate did not fuse, or join together, as the unborn baby was developing.

Bilateral cleft lip

• When a cleft palate occurs on both sides it is referred to as a bilateral cleft palate.

Unilateral cleft palate

• When a cleft palate occurs on only one side it is referred to as a unilateral cleft palate.

Links to Oral Facial Clefts

• Overview of Oral-facial clefts with pictures and diagrams
• Cleft Palate - UK site with multiple links to cleft resources
• Cleft Lip and Cleft Papate 

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