Of course, children with cleft palate are at risk for dental abnormalities. Often, dental eruption is delayed , and there might be absence of a lateral incisor on the side of the cleft. Supernumerary teeth can also be common. Most children with cleft palate will also have a malocclusion , which will be treated over time by the orthodontist. The reference point for judging occlusion is the maxillary and mandibular first molars .
Bilateral clefts can result in bilateral crossbites .
A Class II malocclusion occurs when the anterior maxillary are oriented in front of the mandibular teeth, but this is less common in children with cleft palate. All children must be nourished, but feeding a child with cleft palate requires special knowledge. The main objective of the SLP s early role is to ease the family s fear and anxiety by providing counseling and feeding instruction . Early on, just after birth, that the SLP s give the family should be simple and concise . This may mean that the SLP needs to conduct in-service training for other hospital members regarding feeding a child with cleft palate.