Palatoplasty

Palatoplasty is a surgical procedure that corrects or reconstructs the palate in a person born with a cleft palate. Its goals are to close the abnormal opening between the nose and the mouth, help the patient develop normal speech, and support normal swallowing, breathing, and growth of the surrounding structures of the mouth. Anyone with any degree of cleft palate is a candidate, and the procedure is usually carried out on infants, ideally between six and twelve months of age, since waiting much past three years can leave speech development less than optimal; about eighty percent of patients achieve normal palate development and speech after a single procedure.