Children who are born with cleft lip are at higher risk of losing their teeth, which can bring a gap between their existing teeth. There are various problems that children with cleft lips may have to face. Lateral incisors are also something that they are likely to develop.
There are times when dentists are able to move the canine teeth into the lateral position, but it is not something that works every time. If the child develops a gap between their teeth, they are going to need an artificial tooth to be placed in that space in order to fill the gap.
In Chehalis, WA, residents can easily find dental clinics that offer optimal dental care options. Once the orthodontic treatment is done, only one can decide whether it will be the right idea to have an artificial truth.
Furthermore, a child above the age of 17 can get dental implants, and children below that age may not be eligible for them. You can get dental implants in Chehalis, WA, by contacting a professional.
What do you understand by cleft lip?
It is a congenital deformity that does not let the child have fully developed lips. A cleft lip can be seen as a separation that can even extend to the nose, and in other cases, it may not. If it does not make it to the nose, then it is called a “partial cleft.” It can either affect one side of the mouth or both sides.
What can result in cleft lips?
According to studies, most people believe that cleft lips are caused by changes in the genetic makeup or that both environmental and genetic factors can lead to the deformity. Genetic factors could be that the child got cleft lips because one of the parents had a deformity.
However, it is not necessary that a child with no family history cannot have cleft lips. Similarly, there can be various environmental factors as well, some of them are listed below:
- If the mother is consuming alcohol or drinking while pregnant, then the chances of getting the deformity can increase.
- Make use of certain medications such as topiramate, which helps people with seizures, or accutane, which is used to treat acne, etc.
- Vitamin deficiencies can also be a factor.
- Any of the parents being exposed to lead.
What are the complications that children with cleft lips can face?
There are various problems that babies with cleft lips can face, some of which are listed here:
- Speech-related problems:
They may find it difficult to pronounce certain sounds, such as ch or sh. This kind of problem can be tackled with speech therapy and other treatment methods that can improve speech-related issues.
- Infection in the middle ear:
There are many infants with cleft lips who have face infections in the middle ear that can even lead to loss of hearing. There is a fluid that can build up in the middle year, which can be very problematic for the infant, and it can even lead to hearing loss. Tympanostomy tubes are used to drain fluid and prevent any such things from happening.
- Challenges during feeding:
The milk can flow in a backward direction during feeding, which can cause many problems. It can lead to difficulties in having any food. There are baby bottles and specific feeders that can help prevent the backward flow of milk and not let it come from the nose.
Missing teeth, displacement of teeth, and other dentition-related problems can be there, too. They can even leave a permanent impact on oral health.
Help your child by reaching out to a professional!
It is essential that you do not overlook any problems and get them checked with a professional dentist. After assessing the patient’s oral health, dentists can come up with different solutions that may help. They can even customize the treatment plan according to the patient’s needs.