Nationally recognized for its innovative team approach to helping children with cleft lip and craniofacial abnormalities, the Cleft Palate Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center provides diagnostic, surgical, social and educational services to children and their families in a comfortable and enriching environment. 

The goal of the Cleft Palate Team is to provide comprehensive, long term care for each patient and their family.  This includes sequencing treatments in conjunction with a patient's growth, as well as medical and psychological evaluations throughout their development.

The Cleft Palate Team is a group of professionals and specialists experienced in the care and treatment of children with clefts. Our core team includes:

  • Plastic surgeons
  • Pediatricians and pediatric dentists
  • Speech pathologists and audiologists
  • Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat physicians)
  • Social workers
  • Genetics specialists
  • Orthodontists and Prosthodontists

Care is best begun just after birth and the plan is established and followed until physical growth is complete (at approx. 21 years).  The recommendations are shared with the parent and made available to the child’s pediatrician.  The child is seen at regular intervals to plan and provide care needed at the appropriate stages of development. These different forms of developmental care include:

  • Surgical management
  • Dental/orthodontic/prosthodontic management
  • Speech and hearing management
  • Repeated speech evaluations and home program for parents
  • Audiological and otological management
  • Educational/academic/psychosocial needs

The Cleft Palate Center team may provide these professional services:

  • Plastic surgery
  • Pediatric/adolescent medicine
  • Speech pathology
  • Audiology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Nursing
  • Social work
  • Psychology
  • Pedodontics
  • Orthodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Genetics
  • Other team resources

Specialties

  • Prenatal consultations
  • Neonatal nasal alveolar molding
  • Feeding

52nd Annual Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Symposium

Back to the Future and Still Going Strong
Saturday, November 6, 2021

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