Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital craniofacial anomalies, affecting approximately 1 in 700 births. Treatment requires a multidisciplinary team spanning infancy through adolescence. Dr. Kahwach contributes to this team at the oral surgical stage — performing alveolar bone grafting, secondary palatal repair, and orthognathic surgery when skeletal correction is needed in the teenage or adult years.
Alveolar Bone Grafting
Performed between ages 7–12 (before the permanent canine erupts), alveolar bone grafting fills the bony cleft in the upper jaw with bone harvested from the hip (iliac crest) or, in select cases, from the chin or tibia. This provides bone support for erupting teeth, closes the oronasal fistula, supports the nasal base, and creates a continuous alveolar arch for future orthodontic alignment and potential dental implant placement.
Orthognathic Surgery for Cleft Patients
Approximately 25% of cleft palate patients develop maxillary hypoplasia (an underdeveloped upper jaw) that creates a Class III relationship requiring Le Fort I advancement in the late teenage years. Dr. Kahwach plans these cases with virtual surgical planning technology and coordinates closely with the patient's orthodontist and cleft team.
Contact us to discuss your child's cleft care or to schedule a consultation for adult secondary cleft revision.