Cleft and Craniofacial Center
Welcome to our practice. Whether you just found out your baby has a cleft or are preparing yourself or your child for an upcoming procedure, we want you to know you’re in good hands.
Our passion is our patients. While our Cleft and Craniofacial Center serves as the benchmark for clinical excellence in the Carolinas, our unwavering commitment to whole-patient care is what parents and patients remember. Wherever you are on your cleft care journey, our promise is to make sure you feel comfortable, confident, and informed every step of the way.
Family-Centered Approach to Care
When it comes to taking care of cleft lip and palate patients, team care is the gold standard. We have strategically selected a team of specialists recognized by the American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association (ACPA), and our Cleft and Craniofacial Center is one of only five treatment centers in the country outside of universities or hospitals capable of providing this level of care.
Our family-centered approach means patients, parents, and caregivers play an active part of the decision-making, planning, treatment, and recovery process. Together, we’ll create a custom treatment plan to achieve the best outcome possible for today, tomorrow, and years to come.
Transformations
The results from a corrective surgery like a cleft or craniofacial procedure are some of the most remarkable and life-changing transformations. These surgeries not only restore facial function but improve quality of life.
Meet Our Specialists
Charlotte’s only ACPA-approved cleft and craniofacial team is here to support you and your child every step of the way. Upholding the highest standards of clinical excellence, our board-certified specialists deliver care that is comprehensive, compassionate, and personable.
What to Expect
Most patients with a cleft lip or cleft palate undergo a corrective procedure within their first 18 months of life. Many parents remember this time as one of preparation, anticipation, and excitement, as the first procedure brings the most dramatic and life-changing results.
No matter where you are on your healing journey, our team is here to support you and your family. From prenatal or pre-adoption consultations to continued treatment into adulthood, we will put together a customized treatment plan and guide you along every step of the process. The details of treatments and procedures are important to understand, and we will provide you with all the information you need. What is most important to us is that you feel the compassion, commitment, and gratitude that our team delivers to every patient.
Cleft and Craniofacial Therapy Timeline
- Lip Adhesion
- Speech Therapy
- Audiology
- Primary or Definitive Lip Repair
- Palate Repair
- Speech Therapy
- Ear Tubes
- Speech Therapy
- Audiology
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Speech Therapy
- Lip Revision Surgery
- Palate Revision Surgery
- Initial Interventional Orthodontic Evaluation
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Preparation for Alveolar Bone Grafting
- Speech Therapy
- Orthodontic Expansion
- Alveolar Bone Grafting
- Pediatric Dentristry
- Definitive Orthodontics
- Nasal Revision Surgery
- Orthognathic Surgery
Resources
Download pre- and post-operative instructions, insurance information, and a directory of local cleft specialists.
Partners in Care
The Cleft Out Foundation
The Cleft Out Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides valuable resources for local Charlotte families. Founded by Dr. Rick Kapitan in 2017, the Cleft Out Foundation aims to “close the gap” by providing the medically necessary funding cleft lip and palate patients need to complete their care.
Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery in Charlotte, Gastonia, Matthews, Concord, Lake Norman, Rock Hill, Greenville, Columbia, and Simpsonville
Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery provides first-class care to improve health and well-being while maximizing the patient experience. Every office is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and outfitted with state-of-the-art digital imaging technology and surgical equipment to enhance our scope of practice. The high level of care we provide ensures every patient feels confident in their treatment while they receive safe and predictable results.
We Are Here for You
Learn more about cleft and craniofacial surgery, schedule an appointment, and more. Contact Carolinas Center for Oral & Facial Surgery.