Cleft lip and palate care involves coordinated dental planning. Here are key points for parents.
🦷 Why does dental planning matter?
Children with cleft lip or palate may have distinctive dental and orthodontic needs. Ongoing dental care supports oral health as they grow and remains important throughout life.
🤝 How does the dental team work together?
AAPD considers a pediatric dentist’s involvement in the craniofacial team ideal. That dentist can coordinate with orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, specialists in dental replacement and reconstruction, and the child’s primary dentist when applicable.
📅 Does every child follow the same schedule?
No. Examinations and restorative care may need a schedule tailored to the child’s needs.
Planning tip: Ask the team how dental visits fit into your child’s overall care plan.
💬 Questions to bring to the next visit
- Coordination: Who will connect our dental care with the craniofacial team?
- Momento: When should the next dental review happen?
- Development: Which dental or bite changes are being monitored?
Contact Little Kids Dentistry to discuss your child’s dental needs. Browse our Special Needs articles for more parent resources.
📚 AAPD source
Policy on the Management of Patients with Cleft Lip/Palate and Other Craniofacial Anomalies, revised 2023. This educational summary does not replace an individual assessment.