Cleft Lip and Palate Team
One out of 800 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Though it's a fairly common birth defect, cleft lip and palate can often be a shock to families. In Cedar Rapids, an entire team knows exactly what your child needs and will assist and support your family throughout the process.
The team is a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals who specialize in treating patients with cleft lip and palate. The goal of the team is to help families understand their individualized treatment needs and to work to achieve the best results.
The team consists of specialists in the areas of:
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Ear, Nose & Throat
- Oral Surgery
- Orthodontics
- Pediatric & General Dentistry
- Nursing
- Speech Therapy
- Lactation Consultants
- Audiology
From the day your newborn enters the world, a general timeline for treatment is put into place which includes a referral to the Cleft Lip & Palate Team. Shortly after baby's birth, a member of the team will visit with you and make sure you and your family have all the resources and assistance you need. This includes help from a lactation consultant, speech therapist and others. The team then follows the patient and family throughout the teenage and adult years to provide necessary referrals and treatment to optimize your child's care.
Please note: As of February 2012, Dr. Emery is not accepting newborns however the team is still functioning. For additional information, call 319/362-0039 or visit the Cleft Palate Foundation.
