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Cleft lip

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Cleft lip is a birth defect that occurs when the tissues of the upper jaw and nose do not join as expected during fetal development, resulting in a split (cleft) in the lip. An incomplete cleft lip can range from a slight indentation to a notch in the upper lip on one side only. A complete cleft lip is a deep split in the lip that extends into one or both sides of the nose. This birth defect can be corrected with one or more surgeries.

Primary Medical Reviewer Michael J. Sexton, MD
- Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD
- Dentistry
Last Updated February 4, 2008

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 04, 2008
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