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STONY BROOK CLEFT PALATE-CRANIOFACIAL CENTER [en español]
The Stony Brook Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Center provides specialized multidisciplinary care for children of all ages born with cleft lip/palate and other defects affecting the head (cranium) and/or face.
The birth of a child with a craniofacial abnormality can be a difficult time for family, friends, and relatives. Helping the family cope and plan for the future is the goal of the cleft lip/palate and craniofacial team at Stony Brook University Medical Center. Organized in 1984, the team has been a resource for care and support to the families of several hundred children from Suffolk and Nassau counties.
Before Surgery at Stony Brook |
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After Surgery at Stony Brook |
One child in approximately 700 is born with a facial cleft. Although most children come to us as newborns, we provide care for children of all ages born with cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial defects. These children and their families are best cared for by a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals to assure that the physical and emotional needs of the child and family are met.
The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association recommends that each child be followed by a cleft palate team. The team approach is ideally suited for the special needs of children born with cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial abnormalities. Team visits are arranged so that our specialists can evaluate each child in an open, friendly environment and respond to the questions and concerns of each family. After the visit, the team coordinator works with the family to assure that the care plan is completed.
Working as a team with the child's parents and pediatrician, the cleft lip/palate craniofacial team integrates care with the emotional and educational needs of the child and family as needed to assure a non-traumatic repair of the anomaly as well as normal growth and development.
Our multidisciplinary team specialist areas include:
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l Audiology |
Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Team*
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Audiologist Department of Health Feeding/Lactation Consultant Geneticist/Genetic Counselor Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Orthodontists |
Pediatric Dentist Plastic Surgeons Social Worker Speech Pathologist Support Group for Parents Team Coordinator _________________________ |
For more information about the Stony Brook Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Center, please call 631-444-8167.
What Is a Cleft?
A cleft is a separation in the skin, mucosa, muscle, and bone that is normally fused together. However, no structures are missing. Clefts can be unilateral (one side) or bilateral (both sides) and may include the lip, soft palate, and hard palate, or a combination of lip and palate. This occurs during the first trimester when the area does not fuse. Although there is no known cause, the increase of folic acid prior to pregnancy is known to help decrease birth defects.
Types of Clefts
l Cleft lip is a separation in the lip and may include the base of the nose.
l Cleft palate is a separation in the hard and/or soft palate.
l Submucous cleft is a separation in the muscle of the soft palate with the mucosa intact, which may not be easily visualized.
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All drawings by Raymond Pahk, medical student, Stony Brook University © 2005. |
Helpful Resources
Cleft Palate Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to optimizing the quality of life for individuals affected by facial birth defects. It was founded by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association in 1973 to be the public service arm of the professional association. CPF produces free publications and operates the CLEFTLINE — 800-24-CLEFT (800-242-5338) — a toll-free phone service that provides information to callers about clefts and other craniofacial anomalies. Mailing address, ACPA/CPF National Office / 104 South Estes Drive, Suite 204 / Chapel Hill, NC 27514; phone, 919-933-9044; fax, 919-933-9604; e-mail, Cleftline@aol.com. See its cleft care-centered glossary of terms.
Children's Craniofacial Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for facially disfigured individuals and their families. Nationally and internationally, CCA addresses the medical, financial, psychosocial, emotional, and educational concerns relating to craniofacial conditions. CCA advocates on behalf of and promotes awareness for the facially disfigured. Its website contains information on craniofacial disorders in children as well as educational materials and doctor referrals. Mailing address, Children's Craniofacial Association / 13140 Coit Road, Suite 307 / Dallas, TX 75240; phone (toll-free), 800-535-3643; e-mail, contactCCA@ccakids.com. See its links to family support.
Wide Smiles provides support, inspiration, information, and networking for families everywhere who may be dealing with the challenges associated with clefting. In addition to its web resources, it has a quarterly publication called Wide Smiles that is written by parents, for parents of children born with cleft. This magazine offers "useful, practical, inspirational articles that speak to a lay audience of intelligent parents." It discusses topics that touch these children at every developmental level. Mailing address, Wide Smiles / PO Box 5153 / Stockton, CA 95205; phone, 209-942-2812; fax, 209-464-1497; e-mail, JoSmiles@yahoo.com. See information on how to get Wide Smiles.
