Genetics Counseling
To help individuals and families make informed medical and personal decisions, the Craniofacial Geneticist provides information on the nature, inheritance and implications of genetic disorders. A consultation with the Craniofacial Geneticist may include:
- Diagnosis or confirmation of a specific genetic condition
- Discussion of medical management
- Calculation and discussion of genetic risks
- Performance of available genetic tests and interpretation of test results
Craniofacial Feeding Management
Many children born with craniofacial conditions have serious problems with feeding that require a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. Our feeding specialists include nutritionists, nurses, occupational therapists and speech pathologists.
Plagiocephaly Clinic
The Craniofacial Center is devoted to the evaluation and treatment of children with positional plagiocephaly (misshapen heads).The Center’s craniofacial surgeon and neurosurgeons, experts in evaluating and managing plagiocephaly in children, can differentiate between molding deformities and premature skull suture fusion(craniosynostosis). Infants with molding deformities are followed in our Plagiocephaly clinic.
Prenatal Consults
Cleft lip/palate or other major abnormalities of the head are increasingly being detected by prenatal sonogram. Our Center offers prenatal counseling visits to discuss the diagnosis, the anticipated treatment plan and feeding issues, and the need for emotional and social support for the family. Arrangements can also be made for our nurse coordinator to visit the family in the hospital after the baby is born
Orthodontics
Craniofacial orthodontics is one of the most challenging fields in dentistry. Our orthodontics program specializes in the treatment of cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial syndromes along with surgical orthodontic treatment of dental facial abnormalities. To provide the best chance for long-term dental health and preservation of teeth, the Center has a full time, in–house craniofacial orthodontist, and we also coordinate with local orthodontists to coordinate care. This may include preparation for orthognatic surgery (jaw surgery) to correct bite deformities. Our craniofacial orthodontists are closely involved in the care of patients with cleft lip/palate from birth-using nasoalveolar molding (NAM) appliances-through adulthood, when bite irregularities and dental alignment are prioritized.
