Cleft lip and palate is a congenital condition that affects the lip, mouth, and jaw. It is a complex condition that requires a team of specialists to provide comprehensive care. Finding the right cleft lip and palate team can be a daunting task, but it is essential to ensure that your child receives the best possible care. In this blog post, we will provide a guide on how to find the right cleft lip and palate team, including information on how to choose a surgeon, speech therapist, and other specialists.
The first step in finding the right cleft lip and palate team is to identify the specialists that your child will need. The team typically includes a plastic surgeon, an oral surgeon, a speech therapist, an audiologist, an orthodontist, a genetic counselor, and a social worker. Each specialist plays a crucial role in the care of your child, and it is essential to find a team that has experience and expertise in treating cleft lip and palate.
When choosing a plastic surgeon, it is essential to look for a surgeon who is certified by the Indian Board of Plastic Surgery. The surgeon should also have experience and expertise in cleft lip and palate surgery. It is essential to ask the surgeon about their experience, how many surgeries they have performed, and how they approach cleft lip and palate surgery. You should also ask to see before and after photos of their patients to get an idea of their surgical outcomes. It is also important to ask the age group the surgeon is comfortable working with.
The oral surgeon is responsible for the care of the teeth, gums, and jaw. It is essential to find an oral surgeon who has experience and expertise in cleft lip and palate surgery. The oral surgeon should also be certified by the Indian Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. You should ask the oral surgeon about their experience, how many surgeries they have performed, and how they approach cleft lip and palate surgery. It is also important to ask the age group the surgeon is comfortable working with.
The roles of maxillofacial surgeon and plastic surgeon overlap. So, either a plastic surgeon or a maxillofacial surgeon should be able to help with the cleft surgery.
Where do we fit in? Our NOSTREAL Nostril retainer/conformer helps prevent post surgical and post traumatic scar contracture of the nostril. In other words, using our NOSTREAL Nasal retainer/conformer post surgery helps in forming and maintaining the shape of the nose. Its unique design, which is based on cutting-edge technology, provides a number of benefits to the patient, including keeping the septum in a vertical position, erasing the memory of the ectopic cartilage, and allowing nasal breathing in the immediate postoperative period without obstructing air flow. It’s simple to sanitize and sterilize, making the post-operative procedure go more smoothly and ensuring consistent results.
The speech therapist plays a crucial role in the care of children with cleft lip and palate. They work with children to improve speech and language skills, and help them to develop the ability to communicate effectively. It is essential to find a speech therapist who has experience and expertise in cleft lip and palate speech therapy. The therapist should also be certified by the Indian Speech-Language-Hearing Association. You should ask the therapist about their experience, how many children with cleft lip and palate they have treated, and what techniques they use to improve speech and language skills.
The audiologist is responsible for the care of the ears and hearing. Children with cleft lip and palate are at risk of hearing loss, and it is essential to find an audiologist who has experience and expertise in treating hearing loss in children with cleft lip and palate. The audiologist should also be certified by the Indian Speech-Language-Hearing Association. You should ask the audiologist about their experience, how many children with cleft lip and palate they have treated, and what techniques they use to improve hearing.
The orthodontist is responsible for the care of the teeth and jaw. Children with cleft lip and palate are at risk of dental problems, and it is essential to find an orthodontist who has experience and expertise in treating dental problems in children with cleft lip and palate. The orthodontist should also be certified by the Indian Association of Orthodontists. You should ask the orthodontist about their experience, how many children with cleft lip and palate they have treated, and what techniques they use to improve dental health.
Although not required, a genetic counselor is helpful for providing information and support to families affected by cleft lip and palate. The counselor can help families understand the causes and risks of cleft lip and palate, and can provide information on genetic testing.
