Cleft Lip and Palate Repair
Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate:
Cleft lip and palate can occur in 1 out of 700 births. This is the most common birth impairment. Children born with cleft lip and/or palate can have a variety of challenges including feeding, hearing, dentition, resonance, speech production and language, facial growth, vision, learning, and psycho-social issues. Comprehensive and team coordinated care from infancy through adolescence is essential to achieve the best outcome.
Dr. Wilson is the craniofacial surgeon for the Western Michigan Cleft Team. At team appointments, there are a variety of specialists present to provide an interdisciplinary approach to treating complex craniofacial differences. Dr. Wilson encourages families and caregivers to ask questions and aid in the decision-making process. Working as a team allows us to maximize patient convenience and coordinate surgeries, which may reduce hospitalizations and exposure to general anesthesia.
Dr. Wilson offers complimentary prenatal consultations for expectant parents. This allows for parents to learn how to use specialized feeding techniques, become familiar with feeding bottles, and to ask questions. His goal is to help parents feel fully prepared for their baby’s arrival.
Dr. Wilson’s training in dentistry, medicine, and surgery allows him to provide specialized care for cleft lip and palate patients. His objectives for children born with cleft lip and palate are to normalize aesthetic appearance of the lip and nose with minimal scarring; create an intact palate to facilitate normal speech, language, and hearing; encourage good dental and periodontal health; and promote normal psycho-social development. Dr. Wilson will be a resource for your family throughout your child’s journey.