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Cleft & Craniofacial Orthodontics

Dr. Loo works with the cleft palate and craniofacial team at BC Children’s Hospital to diagnose, treat, and support newborn patients with craniofacial conditions.

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What is a Cleft Lip & Palate?

The word 'cleft' means opening or gap, so a cleft lip is an opening in the mouth, and a cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth. Clefts of the lip and palate can occur separately or together: this means that a child can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both.

Cleft lips and palates, which are often caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, affect 1 in 700 newborns each year.

Common issues caused by cleft palate can include: Ear disease, dental problems, problems with speech development, and difficulty eating.

To address these issues, a child and family may work with a team of specialists, including a pediatrician, a plastic surgeon, a dental specialist like Dr. Loo, a speech-language pathologist and audiologist, social worker, etc.

Treatment & Pre-Surgical Orthopedics   Conditions We Treat

Cleft Lip Before & Afters

When a cleft is on one side of the lip, it’s called a unilateral cleft lip. When a cleft is on both sides of the lip, it’s called a bilateral cleft lip.


  • Unilateral Cleft Lip – Before

    Unilateral Cleft Lip – Before

  • Unilateral Cleft Lip – After

    Unilateral Cleft Lip – After

  • Bilateral Cleft Lip – Before

    Bilateral Cleft Lip – Before

  • Bilateral Cleft Lip – After

    Bilateral Cleft Lip – After

Already Have a Diagnosis?

Learn what to expect during the treatment process and how to care for your baby with the support of Dr. Loo at Braced in BC.

Cleft & Craniofacial Patient Resources

Cleft & Craniofacial Treatment

A cleft lip or palate can be successfully corrected with surgery and orthodontic treatment.

A pediatrician and plastic surgeon work with a child’s parents to choose the best timing for surgery. Any surgical procedure depends on a child’s general health and the nature of the cleft lip or palate.

Most surgeons agree that a cleft lip should be repaired by three months old. To repair the partition of the mouth and nose as early as possible, a cleft palate is generally repaired between the ages of 12 and 18 months.

Children with clefts usually continue to receive treatment after surgery, including dental care and speech therapy.

Pre-Surgical Orthopedics

Pre-surgical orthopedics narrows the gaps in the mouth, improves the symmetry of the nose and minimizes the size of the scar from the surgery.

Before surgery, your baby will be required to wear a small acrylic plate, nose stent, and lip tape designed to prepare your baby for the best surgical result. With some exceptions, lip surgery usually takes place at approximately three to five months of age.

Before surgery, your baby will be required to wear a small acrylic plate, nose stent and lip tape designed to prepare your baby for the best surgical result.

The second phase of pre-surgical orthopedics focuses on encouraging the roof of the mouth to close naturally before palate repair surgery at 9 to 12 months. 

Learn More About the Treatment Process

Conditions We Treat

Dr. Loo and the Cleft Palate & Craniofacial team work with our patients and their families to develop treatment plans that address each patient’s specific condition, symptoms and needs.

Apert Syndrome

Apert Syndrome is a condition that causes abnormal growth of the head, face, hands and feet. During pregnancy, the skull bones join together too early, which prevents them from growing normally. As a result, the area between the bottom of the eyes and jaw are often underdeveloped, making the eyes appear more prominent. Webbed fingers and toes are also common in children born with Apert syndrome.

Because Apert Syndrome affects the growth of the head, face, hands and feet, there are a range of symptoms, which may include cleft palate (palatoschisis).

Treatment plans for patients with Apert Syndrome often include surgeries to correct the shape of the head and face, as well as the webbing/fusion of the fingers and toes. Our team works with our patients and their families to develop a treatment plan that address each patient’s specific needs.

Resources

Ectodermal Dysplasia Syndrome

'Ectodermal Dysplasia Syndromes (EDS) is a group of related conditions that causes the abnormal development of some combination of teeth, hair, nails, sweat glands and parts of the eye and ear during pregnancy. More than 150 conditions have been identified, and each syndrome usually involves a different combination of symptoms. EDS is diagnosed when a patient has 2 or more EDS symptoms.

Because the ectoderm plays a role in development of so many body parts, patients with EDS may have a broad variety of symptoms, which range from mild to severe, including cleft lip and/or palate.

It is common for patients with EDS and EEC (Ectodermal-Ectodactyl Clefting Syndrome) to undergo significant dental treatment, including orthodontic, oral surgery and prosthetic services. Our team works with our patients and their families to develop a treatment plan that addresses each patient’s specific needs. 

Resources

CHARGE Syndrome

CHARGE syndrome is condition that occurs when different types of tissue do not develop completely. This happens very early in pregnancy, within the first 3-4 weeks. Children born with CHARGE syndrome often have multiple serious medical conditions that affect many different systems in their bodies. The diagnosis of CHARGE syndrome is based on a combination of major and minor characteristics. The word CHARGE is based on the major symptoms of the condition, and stands for:

C- Coloboma of the eye (a hole in one of the structures of the eye)
H- Heart defects
A- Atresia of the choanae (narrow or blocked nasal cavities)
R- Retardation of growth and/or development
G- Genital and/or urinary abnormalities
E- Ear abnormalities and deafness

Children with CHARGE syndrome have many serious, potentially life-threatening medical challenges. Due to the range of symptoms, each child is impacted differently. Symptoms may include cleft lip and/or palate.

Our team works with our patients and their families to develop a treatment plan that address each patient’s specific needs.

Resources

Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis is a condition that affects the shape of the head and face. It occurs when the bones of the skull close too early, before the brain has finished growing. A newborn’s skull has seven bones, which are separated by spaces called sutures. As an infant’s brain grows, it pushes the bones of the skull outward. Craniosynostosis prevents the brain from growing normally, so the head becomes misshapen. Because there are multiple sutures that can fuse, there a several different types of craniosynostosis.

Because Craniosynostosis affects the growth of the head and face there are a range of symptoms, which may include dental malformations. 

Treating craniosynostosis usually involves surgery to separate the fused bones. Our team works with our patients and their families to develop a treatment plan that address each patient’s specific needs.

Resources

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