Clefts of the oral-facial region usually occur in early fetal development and can affect the lip, the soft palate (the soft tissue in the back of the mouth) and the hard palate (the roof of the mouth). Cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) is a genetically complex birth defect that occurs in approximately one in every 750-1,000 live births. This is one of the most common birth defects and is multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental causes. Cleft lip- and palate-associated tra