Abstract
Cleft lips, palates, and cleft lip-palates are craniofacial defects that affect the normal development of the fetal face or oral structures. Although a normally regulated process through tightly regulated signaling, many secondary effects had led to aberrant development. Multiple imaging modalities can detect fetal clefts, ranging from ultrasound to MRI. These are sensitive and allow for a multidisciplinary approach and postnatal surgical planning. The current standard repair for clefts is closure between the 2nd and 6th months of life to prevent long-term complications like abnormal dentation and speech patterns. Studies have speculated the possibility of in utero correction of cleft lips and palates via animal experimentation. While animal studies have shown promise in fetal repairs, this has yet to be carried out in human fetuses. Rather than proceeding with invasive procedures, stem cell studies are now being evaluated as these nondifferentiated cells have the ability to become potentially any cell type, including facial soft tissue and bony structures.