The Proof Is in Our Patients
Hear Them Laugh Freely
This treatment means playground chatter, sharing snacks with friends, and your child speaking up in class with confidence.
What Is Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment?
Watch Their Confidence Bloom
689+
Smiles Restored
4
Convenient Locations
98%
Patient Satisfaction
10,000+
Implants Placed
30+ Years
Combined Experience
689+
Smiles Restored
4
Convenient Locations
98%
Patient Satisfaction
10,000+
Implants Placed
30+ Years
Combined Experience
689+
Smiles Restored
4
Convenient Locations
98%
Patient Satisfaction
10,000+
Implants Placed
30+ Years
Combined Experience
689+
Smiles Restored
4
Convenient Locations
98%
Patient Satisfaction
10,000+
Implants Placed
30+ Years
Combined Experience
689+
Smiles Restored
4
Convenient Locations
98%
Patient Satisfaction
10,000+
Implants Placed
30+ Years
Combined Experience
Transforming Young Lives
Be our Next Success Story!
Comprehensive Reconstructive Care
Complete Care Awaits
Comprehensive Cleft Care
Ready to Begin Your Child's Cleft Treatment Journey?
Real Patients, Real Transformations
Your Success Story Starts Here
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Frequently Asked Questions
Don't See Your Question Here?
Northern Virginia's Most Advanced Technology
Every piece of technology we use is chosen with one thing in mind: your comfort. These tools cut down treatment time, ease discomfort, and speed up healing , which is exactly why Northern Virginia patients keep trusting us with their care.
Flexible Payment Plans Available
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
Start Your Treatment Today With Easy Financing
Your Smile Transformation Specialists
Lead Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Board-Certified Periodontist
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
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Hundreds of Families Trust Their Smiles to Our Care
4.9★ out of 5
Convenient Locations
Find Your Nearest Location and Request An Appointment Today
Stay Informed, Smile With Confidence
Give Your Child the Gift of Comprehensive Cleft Care
Getting a cleft lip and palate diagnosis is a lot to process as a family. But the good news is, this path has been walked many times before it’s well understood, and with the right team, outcomes are genuinely good. At Greater Washington Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, our surgeons work alongside pediatricians, orthodontists, and speech therapists, guiding families through every stage of treatment, from your child’s first months through their teenage years.
The Proof Is in Our Patients
Your Success Story Starts Here
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These are among the most common facial differences a baby can be born with, and they form very early usually in the first trimester, while the face and mouth are still developing. A cleft lip happens when the tissue that forms the upper lip doesn’t fully come together before birth. Sometimes that’s just a small notch; other times, the gap extends up into the nose. It can be on one side or both, and honestly, every case looks a little different.
Cleft palate is related but not the same thing it’s when the roof of the mouth doesn’t fully close as it’s forming. That can involve the hard palate up front, the soft palate near the throat, or both. Since the palate does so much for feeding, speech, and keeping the mouth separate from the nasal cavity, a cleft palate can make it harder for a baby to nurse or bottle-feed, and later on, can affect certain speech sounds.
Some kids are born with just a cleft lip, some with just a cleft palate, some with both together (you’ll see this written as CLP). They don’t always show up together. And whether it’s one side (unilateral) or both (bilateral) changes the whole treatment approach which is exactly why every family starts with an individual evaluation, not a one-size-fits-all plan.
Only one side is affected here. It’s the more common version, and while it still needs the same team of specialists involved, the surgical repair itself tends to be a bit more straight forward just one side of tissue to bring together.
Both sides are involved, which means more tissue to work with and more planning ahead of time. Often this includes something like nasoalveolar molding before surgery, to bring the separated segments closer together first and set up a more predictable outcome down the line.
Timeline
Treatment happens in stages across childhood and into the teen years, timed around growth, feeding, speech, and dental development. Every child’s plan looks a little different, but here’s roughly how it tends to go:
Once facial growth’s mostly wrapped up, some patients need jaw surgery to correct bite or facial symmetry, along with any last touch-ups to the lip, nose, or palate.
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This isn’t a single surgery and done it’s a plan that plays out over years, with a whole team involved along the way. Our surgeons work closely with:
Pediatricians,
keeping tabs on overall health, feeding, and growth
Speech-language pathologists,
supporting clear communication
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons,
handling bone grafting, jaw surgery, and other surgical repairs as your child grows
Orthodontists,
guiding dental and jaw development at each stage
Otolaryngologists (ENTs),
managing hearing and ear health
It’s that coordination, more than any single procedure, that gives kids with cleft lip and palate the best shot at good long-term outcomes in how they look, how they speak, how they hear, and how confident they feel.
Why Choose Greater Washington OMFS
Real Patients, Real Transformations
Your Success Story Starts Here
Take This 60-Sec Quiz to See If Dental Implants are Right for You!
Frequently Asked Questions
It develops early in pregnancy, when facial tissues don’t fully come together. The exact cause isn’t always clear, though genetics, certain medications, and environmental factors during pregnancy can all be involved.
Most kids with cleft lip and palate do need orthodontic care at some point often palate expansion early on, then braces later as permanent teeth come in. Your child’s orthodontist and surgeon will time this together.
It really depends on the type and severity of the cleft. Most kids need at least two primary surgeries for lip and palate repair during infancy, and some need additional revision surgery, bone grafting, or jaw surgery later on.
It can, especially if the palate isn’t repaired at the right time or there are other muscle-related issues involved. But with close monitoring, early speech therapy, and well-timed surgery, most kids go on to develop clear, typical speech.
Still Have Questions?
Northern Virginia's Most Advanced Technology
Every piece of technology we use is chosen with one thing in mind: your comfort. These tools cut down treatment time, ease discomfort, and speed up healing , which is exactly why Northern Virginia patients keep trusting us with their care.
Flexible Payment Plans Available
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
Start Your Treatment Today With Easy Financing
Your Smile Transformation Specialists
Lead Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Board-Certified Periodontist
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Be our Next Success Story!
Convenient Locations
Find Your Nearest Location and Request An Appointment Today
Hundreds of Families Trust Their Smiles to Our Care
4.9★ out of 5
Stay Informed, Smile With Confidence
Fredericksburg Office
Fredericksburg, VA
Fairfax Office
Fairfax, VA
Manassas Office
Manassas, VA
Stafford Office
Stafford, VA
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