baby with cleft palate

Cleft & Craniofacial Clinic

With an emphasis on improving the quality of life for our patients, the Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic specializes in treating children and adults with conditions affecting the head, face and dentition, including cleft palate.

To make an appointment with our Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic, please call 612-625-5945.

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Cleft & Craniofacial Clinic Referral Form

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About the Cleft & Craniofacial Clinic

The Cleft & Craniofacial Clinic at the University of Minnesota specializes in evaluating and treating people with conditions affecting the head, face and dentition. We provide care for children and adults with cleft lip and palate, and many rare and complex craniofacial conditions. Our care optimizes the facial appearance, speech, craniofacial and dental development, and quality of life for individuals. Treatment includes expert surgical care, but truly takes a team, built on a trusting relationship that emphasizes the whole person from birth through adulthood.

Questions to ask when selecting a cleft team

We know finding the right team can be overwhelming. This is why we have come up with questions to ask yourself and your team to decide if they are the right fit for you and your child.

Learn about questions to ask

Request a Second Opinion

We believe in educating and empowering our patients and their families when it comes to receiving care. A second opinion can help answer your lingering questions, confirm a diagnosis and give you treatment options. We would be delighted to have our team of compassionate experts meet with you to bring you peace of mind.

Cleft & Craniofacial Clinic Referral Form

Prenatal Consulting

Most often, cleft lip is diagnosed prenatally.

After the diagnosis of cleft lip and/or cleft palate is made, families are scheduled for a prenatal consultation. Families will be provided with education on what to expect at birth, feeding, timing for surgeries, and supportive resources including hearing and cleft lip and palate speech therapy. We are also able to connect you with other families who have cared for babies with cleft lip and/or palate so that you can learn more from their personal stories.

Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) for Cleft Lip and Palate

Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is a pre-surgical appliance that can slowly bring together the two sides of a cleft lip or palate.  The  custom-made orthopedic appliance resembles an orthodontic retainer. Nasoalveolar molding can reduce the width of the cleft, refine nasal symmetry, minimize scarring, and improve feedings.  Our team will see your newborn as soon as possible to discuss early treatment and evaluate whether NAM is appropriate.

Conditions Treated at the Clinic

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Conditions Treated

  • Cleft lip
  • Cleft palate
  • Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM)
  • Pierre Robin Sequence
  • Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI or nasal speech)
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Abnormal head shape / plagiocephaly
  • Syndromic craniofacial anomalies, including but not limited to Stickler, Treacher Collins, Apert, Crouzon, and Pfeiffer syndromes
  • Oculo-auriculo-vertebral Spectrum (Hemifacial Microsoma / Goldenhar Syndrome)
  • 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (Velocardiofacial / DiGeorge syndrome)
  • Ectodermal Dysplasia
  • Craniofacial feeding problems
  • Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome
  • Microtia
  • Facial trauma, cancer reconstruction and paralysis
  • Facial hemangiomas
  • Vascular malformations

We also evaluate, diagnose and treat many other craniofacial conditions not listed. Contact us to discuss.

Meet the Team

group meeting

Our team is composed of providers and faculty across the University of Minnesota, UM Physicians, and affiliate partners across the Twin Cities and State. We work together to provide an integrated treatment approach to provide the best treatment, care, and long-term management resources to our patients. Our multidisciplinary team consists of plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthodontics, pediatric dentists, speech therapists, psychologists, otolaryngologists, audiologists, genetics, social work, and nurse team coordinator. The University of Minnesota is an American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association approved team. This means our team meets the compliance standards and safety of the national organization.

Meet the Team