Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is the second most common birth defect in the world, affecting 1 in 700 live born babies. While the exact cause of CL/P is not well understood, investigators think it could be the result of a combination of genetics and environment. Cleft lip and palate are splits in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth, or both. This happens when cells in a baby's face and mouth don't fuse properly during early development. The result of a partial fusion, or no fusion at all, leaves a cleft.
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