Cleft Palate News and Research

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Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth. They happen when the tissue that forms the roof of the mouth and upper lip don't join before birth. The problem can range from a small notch in the lip to a groove that runs into the roof of the mouth and nose. This can affect the way the child's face looks. It can also lead to problems with eating, talking and ear infections.

Endometriosis increases risk of some birth defects in infants

Research indicates women with endometriosis may face a higher risk of congenital anomalies in infants, emphasizing the need for further investigation.

13 May 2026

Snus linked to gum damage but tooth decay risk unclear

Snus is clearly linked to damage to the gums. The connection to tooth decay, however, remains unclear, according to a systematic review. When it comes to white snus, more studies are needed.

23 Mar 2026

Maxillary nerve block may reduce perioperative opioid consumption in pediatric primary clefts

For infants undergoing cleft palate surgery, local anesthetic injection targeting the maxillary nerve of the face may reduce or eliminate the need for opioid medications to control postoperative pain, reports a study in The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.

12 Dec 2025

Study reveals early mandibular catch-up growth in infants with Robin sequence

Robin sequence is characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and often cleft palate, leading to airway obstruction and feeding challenges.

26 Nov 2025

Study warns of unsafe antiseizure drug use despite rising access

In a study carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organization, two Aston University academics have found that while access to antiseizure medication in low- and middle-income countries is growing, it is not necessarily always prescribed safely.

11 Nov 2025

Transcription factors SP5 and SP8 regulate primary cilia formation in embryos

Some might say it looks like a finger. Others might see a worm. Scientists in the field often liken it to an antenna.

29 Aug 2025

Investigation raises concerns over tooth stem cell banking claims

Parents are spending thousands of pounds to bank stem cells from their children's milk teeth – but the recipient companies' claims about their future medical value are unproven and potentially misleading, reveals an investigation by The BMJ, published today.

21 Aug 2025

In utero exposure to vape liquids can alter skull shape during fetal development

In utero exposure to two liquid ingredients in e-cigarettes – minus the nicotine that drives addiction – can alter skull shape during fetal development, a new study in mice has found.

16 Jul 2025

TMP-SMX in early pregnancy increases risk of birth defects, new study shows

A large US cohort study found that using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for UTI in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of congenital malformations compared to β-lactam antibiotics. No increased risk was seen with nitrofurantoin or fluoroquinolones.

10 Jul 2025

Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 drives key processes in embryonic development

The role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 (FGF8) in embryonic development and organ formation is gaining increased recognition as scientists uncover its wide-ranging influence.

20 Jun 2025

Study unveils genetic pathway leading to cleft lip and palate formation

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects, occurring in about one in 1,050 births in the United States.

17 Apr 2025

Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of disease-causing mutations

Most mutations which cause disease by swapping one amino acid out for another do so by making the protein less stable, according to a massive study of human protein variants published today in the journal Nature. Unstable proteins are more likely to misfold and degrade, causing them to stop working or accumulate in harmful amounts inside cells.

9 Jan 2025

Study reveals disparities in cleft lip surgery for non-White children

Children of non-White racial/ethnic backgrounds experience significant disparities in access to and outcomes of surgery to repair cleft lip, reports a study in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

1 Nov 2024

Protein Kdm1a plays a crucial role in preserving neuronal identity, study shows

Epigenetic processes allow different cell types to emerge from a single genome. Throughout development, cells differentiate and acquire distinct characteristics by expressing the same genome in different ways.

12 Mar 2024

Hackensack Meridian's Dr. Mary Sedarous wins ALS United Mid-Atlantic's Flame of Hope Award

Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center's Mary Sedarous, M.D., medical director of the ALS Center, was honored at ALS United Mid-Atlantic's 2023 Annual Celebration with the organization's Flame of Hope Award, recognizing research and innovation.

26 Dec 2023

Combination of genetic and environmental factors increases the risk of cleft lip

A cleft lip or palate arises from the combined effects of genes and inflammatory risk factors experienced during pregnancy, such as smoking or infections, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

24 May 2023

Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s opens new Cleft and Craniofacial Program

Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's is opening a new plastic surgery program for children with facial deformities.

28 Mar 2023

Cleft lip and palate surgeries are economically undervalued relative to pediatric craniofacial procedures

Plastic surgery procedures performed to correct cleft lip and palate deformities in infants and children are economically undervalued, relative to pediatric craniofacial procedures, concludes an analysis in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

24 Feb 2023