Service leaflets

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Whilst the first few months of a baby’s life can be very challenging (whether they have a cleft or not), the cleft team are here to support with any questions or worries you may have about cleft.

A bone graft is an operation where a piece of bone is moved to a different part of the body. ‘Alveolar’ means gum. An Alveolar Bone Graft (or ABG) is an operation where a small bit of bone is taken from the hip, and put into the gap (cleft) in a gum.

So... you're having an Alveolar Bone Graft (ABG)? - a guide for children

Lots of children born with a gap (called a ‘cleft’) in their lip or palate also have a gap in their gum. You might be able to see this, or feel it with your tongue.

This gap can be a problem for some of your adult teeth, as they need gum to grow into. The ABG closes the gap in the gum so your teeth can grow through. If you have a hole between your mouth and nose, it may help close this too.

Cleft MDT Audit Clinics leaflet

An MDT Audit clinic is an appointment where you see more than one specialty at the same appointment for routine records to be taken. Routine Cleft MDT Audit clinics happen at 5, 10 and 15 years of age.

Cleft Lip and Palate Clinical Psychology service leaflet

Why are there Clinical Psychologists in the cleft team?

Importantly, we are not here because we expect that people born with a cleft lip and/or palate will have major psychological problems. In fact, research has repeatedly shown this is not the case.

However, we understand that although a cleft is only one small part of a person (or family), it can bring along challenges that most people do not have to deal with. We also know that trying to cope with problems alone does not always work.

Our role in the Cleft Team is to provide support for individuals and/or families for any cleft-related difficulties they may face.

This leaflet will tell you about speech surgery, what it's for and what will happen when you have your surgery.