The fourth most common birth defect in the United States: Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate. One in 700 babies born has a cleft lip and/or cleft palate (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2017). Children of Native American, Latino, or Asian descent are more likely to be born with clefts. “Compared to girls, twice as many boys have a cleft lip, both with and without a cleft palate. However, compared to boys, twice as many girls have a cleft palate without a cleft lip” (Cleft lip and cleft palate, 2005-2017, p. 1). What is cleft lip and cleft palate? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay A cleft is a separation or splitting (Cleft Lip and Palate, 2017). An orofacial cleft is an opening in the roof of the mouth and/or lip. All clefts are treatable. Most children undergo surgery very early in life to repair them (cleft lip and palate, 1995-2018). A cleft lip is a tear in the upper lip between the nose and mouth. A crack on one side is known as a unilateral crack, while a crack on both sides is known as a bilateral crack. A cleft palate is a tear in the roof of the mouth. The back part of the palate further towards the throat is called the soft palate while the front part of the palate towards the mouth is called the hard palate (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2017). These facial and oral malformations occur very early in pregnancy, when the baby is developing in the mother. It is possible to have one without the other or to have both cleft lip and cleft palate (Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, 2005-2017). Clefts form within the first ten weeks of pregnancy. The bones and tissues of a child's mouth, nose, and upper jaw normally fuse together to form the upper lip and roof of the mouth, but instead the tissues do not join together and a gap forms. A cleft lip may look like a slight opening just above the lip, but it can also extend to the nose and even the gums. A cleft palate can range from small to large. Cleft lip itself is more common in boys, while cleft palate itself is more common in girls. Both cleft lip and cleft palate together are more common in boys. Some cleft lips are seen during a prenatal ultrasound, while others may only be seen when the baby is born. It is difficult to detect a cleft palate until the mouth is inspected after birth (cleft lip and palate, 1995-2018). Many clefts are believed to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Both mothers and fathers can pass on the genes that cause cleft lip and/or cleft palate. If mothers take certain medications during pregnancy, they may increase the chances of their baby having a cleft lip or cleft palate. Mothers who do not receive the right amount of prenatal nutrients may also increase the risk of their baby having a cleft. Another possible cause of cleft lip and palate is when women smoke cigarettes, use drugs, or drink alcohol during pregnancy. “Research has shown that moms who binge drink (drink four or more drinks in a short period of time) during the first few weeks of pregnancy have a higher risk of having a baby with a facial birth defect such as cleft lip or cleft palate” (Cleft lip and cleft palate, 1995-2018, p.1). Cleft lip and cleft palate cannot be prevented (Cleft lip and cleft palate, 2005-2017). Another factor is the number of affected people in the family and the proximity of relatives who have had or have it?