The Prevalence of Cleft Lip and Palate and Their Effect on Growth and Development: A Narrative Review

Cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL±P) in addition to the cleft palate (CP) are a category of anomalies known as orofacial clefts (OC). These anomalies are accompanied by several aesthetic and functional problems. Information on the prevalence of OC showed different values between studies worldwide. In addition, the presence of cleft lip and/or cleft palate is determined by several changes during the embryonic stage. Besides, cleft repair may lead to a significant impact on the overall aesthetic and function and could negatively affect maxillary growth on certain occasions. Therefore, having the background and knowledge on this phenomenon is essential in designing the overall treatment and obtaining outcomes that are as close to normal as possible. This article reviews the maxillary development, occurrence of cleft lip and/or palate and their prevalence, facial growth in the presence of clefts, effect of cleft repair, an overview of alveolar cleft treatment, as well as the essential information related the prevention of cleft lip and palate.