Cleft Lip, Palate & Craniofacial Surgery
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, we offer a multidisciplinary approach and comprehensive treatment plans that deliver predictable, natural-looking results. Whether you or your child suffers from cleft lip, palate, or other craniofacial abnormalities, our experienced doctors can evaluate, diagnose, and treat your condition.
Safe Cleft Lip & Palate Restoration for Your Child
When the two sides of the face do not join together properly in utero, a split in the lip and/or roof of the mouth can occur. This split is known as a cleft lip or palate, one of the most common birth defects. A team of specialists is usually involved in cleft lip or palate repair, including an oral surgeon, a dentist, and a pediatrician. Depending on the child’s age, a speech pathologist may also be involved to help them establish proper articulation.
Oral surgeons have received years of training beyond dental school to gain the surgical knowledge necessary to perform the full scope of oral procedures. As an essential member of your child’s treatment team, our oral surgeons at Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery are nationally recognized by the American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Our Cleft and Craniofacial Center is one of only five treatment centers in the country, outside of universities or hospitals, capable of providing your family with this level of complex care. We use industry-leading surgical techniques, advanced technology, and custom treatment plans to provide predictable, natural-looking results.
Family-Centered Approach to Care
At Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery, our team of specialists follows a family-centered approach, which means patients, parents, and caregivers play an active role in the decision-making, planning, treatment, and recovery process. We ensure your voice is heard and you feel comfortable at every step in your child’s healing journey. Working hand-in-hand with your child’s doctors, we will build a personalized treatment plan to achieve the best possible clinical outcome.
Surgical Treatment
Newborns and infants with a cleft lip or palate often have feeding difficulties due to their cleft. Special bottles and other tools can help, but surgical repair is necessary to correct the cleft once the child is old enough to undergo the procedure. Every cleft is different: a child may only have a cleft lip, or only a cleft palate, or both. The severity of the cleft varies too. The number of surgical procedures necessary to repair the cleft will depend on the extent of the child’s condition.
A cleft lip is a more straightforward surgical procedure than a cleft palate, although both conditions can be corrected successfully. A child with a cleft lip will undergo one or two surgeries, with the first surgery around 3–6 months of age. The goal of a cleft lip repair is to correct the split in the lip to enhance function and facial esthetics.
Repairing a cleft palate is a more involved procedure. The first surgery takes place between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Once the facial structures have developed more, around age 8, another surgery increases bone quantity in the upper jaw. More surgeries may be recommended as the child develops.
Foundations We Support
Free to Smile Foundation
A team of doctors and volunteers committed to changing a child’s life, one smile at a time, at no cost to them. They aid impoverished children in underserved communities suffering from cleft lip, palate, and other abnormalities worldwide.
Face to Face Foundation
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Dr. Rick Kapitan in 2017, dedicated to supporting Charlotte-area families with children affected by cleft lip and palate by addressing financial needs for treatment.
Samaritan’s Purse
Since 2011, Samaritan’s Purse Cleft Lip Project has repaired over 700 cleft lips, offering children, youth, and adults a second chance and transforming lives.
Exceptional Cleft & Craniofacial Care in the Carolinas
Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery provides compassionate, family-centered care to children with craniofacial complexities throughout North and South Carolina. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons utilize the latest surgical techniques, advanced technology, and specialized care to effectively diagnose, treat, and manage a broad spectrum of craniofacial conditions. Trust our multidisciplinary team to deliver predictable, natural-looking results in a safe, comfortable, and state-of-the-art environment.
