Cleft Palate & Craniofacial Anomalies
Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento
Using a multidisciplinary approach, teams come together under the Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Panel as needed to develop and deliver an individual treatment plan that is right for each child's long-term well being. Conditions treated include cleft lip and/or palate, and anomalies of the mouth, face and head. Our mission is to enhance a child's life and give support and guidance to each patient and their family. We offer ongoing resources and support to children and their families from birth to 21 years of age.
The panel includes the family in developing a treatment plan that will see the child through surgery and comprehensive rehabilitation as needed. The child's health needs, the optimal physiologic timing of growth and development and the associated psychosocial concerns are carefully considered in the planning process. When completed, the panel provides a formal written copy of the treatment plan to the child's referring physician and parents or guardians. In addition, information on accessing community resources and support groups is provided. Taking advantage of the tremendous strides that have been made in recent years, the team develops a long-range treatment plan that takes into account the child's emotional concerns and optimal physiologic growth to optimize timing of treatments. Medical and surgical treatments are often combined with speech and physical therapy that enhance the outcome of treatment. Copies of the child's treatment plan are provided to the family and referring physician.
Members of the team may include:
- Plastic/craniofacial surgeons
- Orthodontists
- Oral surgeons
- Pediatric dentists
- Pediatric speech-language pathologists
- Pediatric audiologists
- Geneticists
- Otolaryngologists
- Pediatric nurses
- Pediatric nutritionists
- Pediatricians
- Child Life Specialists
- Other specialists as required
The Sutter Medical Center Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Panel receives support through contributions from the Native Sons of the Golden West, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of children with craniofacial differences. For information, parents should contact the charitable foundation at (800) 337-1875 or visit their website at www.nsgw.org.
About Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento
Approved by California Children's Services(CCS), Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento is where children come to receive routine and advanced medical care in a place that never forgets they are children. Our family-centered care philosophy recognizes and respects the role the family plays in a child's life.
