The problems faced by patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate are extremely multifaceted: they include aesthetic concerns, problems with milk consumption, speech impediment, ear disease, discrepancy in the upper alveolar arch, malocclusion, maxillary retrusion, mastication disorder, sever dental caries, and psychophysiological problems. Furthermore, such patients require long-term post surgical follow-up. In such cases, interdisciplinary care is required in order that optimal functional and esthetic results can be obtained. In addition, such care should be systematic and directed by consistent policy.
Primary treatment through interdisciplinary care is the most importance, as primary lip surgery will influence aesthetic outcomes throughout the patient’s lifetime, and primary palatoplasty for infants will affect speech function for life. Recently, cleft teams have been joined by midwives, counselor and clinical geneticists, reflecting a new current in primary treatment. However, the basic concept and need of interdisciplinary cooperation remain the same.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the general approach to and our policy on primary therapy for cleft lip and/or cleft palate, and report a part of the questionnaire-based survey and analysis for current trends in interdisciplinary care in Japan conducted by the Japanese Cleft Palate Association.
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