Craniofacial & Cleft Palate Clinic

Multidisciplinary Approach for Various Craniofacial Conditions

Due to the complexity of craniofacial and cleft palate abnormalities, a team of pediatric subspecialists work together to evaluate each child and determine an individualized treatment plan that will provide the best possible outcome. Our multidisciplinary care team works together with each family to determine the most effective treatment plan for their child’s needs.

Conditions we treat include:

• Cleft lip and/or palate: Opening in the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth 
• Nasal alveolar molding (NAM)
• Pierre Robin Sequence
• Treacher Collins Syndrome
• Craniofacial Microsomia
• Microtia: Partial or total absence of the ear
• Craniosynostosis: A type of premature fusing of the skull that inhibits normal growth & development
• Craniosynostosis syndromes: Including Crouzon, Apert, & Pfeiffer Syndrome

What to Expect at Your First Visit

During your initial team visit, you will be meeting with several specialists. Our craniofacial nurse coordinator will contact you before your visit to let you know what to expect, get some initial information, and make your visit more efficient. Because you will see multiple specialists throughout the day, your first visit may take as long as three hours.

To avoid unnecessary delays or repetition, please bring the following documents to your child’s appointment:

• Medical records
• Names of all individuals who have cared for your child
• Medical reports
• X-rays
• CT scans
• MRIs

After your visit, all the specialists will meet in a care conference. This allows for the coordination of care and the development of an individualized treatment plan. A report with the team’s recommendations is drafted and sent to you and your primary care pediatrician.

While you may see some individual specialists more frequently depending on your child’s needs, most families usually return for a full team evaluation every one to two years. If you are traveling a long distance and need overnight accommodations, our program coordinator will work with our social worker to help you find options.