The Cleft-Craniofacial Center's Approach

At the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Cleft-Craniofacial Center, we are proud to offer our patients comprehensive treatment options that are tailored to your child’s specific needs.

Our multidisciplinary team of specialists performs a complete assessment of each child in our care, which allows us to carefully plan your child's treatment to improve both their health and appearance. We’ll work with your family to help you decide on the best treatment at the best time. And if surgical intervention is recommended, you will be in good hands with our highly trained and experienced craniofacial surgeons.

Our team works with your family to create a comprehensive, specialized treatment plan that can include:

• Nasoalveolar molding for infants.
• Speech, language, hearing, and vision evaluations and treatment.
• Longitudinal orthodontic and dental care.
• Surgical repair of cleft lip and/or cleft palate.
• Other bony or soft tissue reconstructive craniofacial surgical interventions to improve the shape of the skull or face.
• Ongoing psychosocial support from dedicated clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.
• Genetic counseling if your child’s defect is suspected to be part of a genetic syndrome or disorder.
• Prenatal diagnosis, evaluation, and management through the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center in partnership with UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

And your family always has access to pediatric specialists across our system including:

• The Newborn Medicine Program and our Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• The Feeding and Swallowing Center
• Child Life Services
• Lactation Support Services
• And more.

Going the Extra Mile for Your Child

We aim to make your family’s experience with UPMC Children’s and our Cleft-Craniofacial Center as easy as possible. Here are a few of the additional supports we offer to our patients:

• Appointment Coordination. Your child may need to see a few specialists at each clinic visit, based on the reason for evaluation or type of condition he or she has. Our team will arrange your child's appointments so that when you make the trip to the hospital, it will be as complete and efficient as possible.
• Financial Resources for Patient Families. We know that some families don't always have the resources to pay for hotel stays or travel to our clinic. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we may be able to provide aid to those who qualify.
• Connection with other Cleft-Craniofacial patient families. Families who have a child with a craniofacial disorder can sometimes feel alone. This is normal. We work hard to connect you with families with similar conditions. This is especially helpful prior to surgery. Our program also holds a family picnic each year where you can gather and talk with others who are facing a similar journey. Hearing others' stories and sharing your own can be good for both you and your child.

Contact the Cleft-Craniofacial Center at UPMC Children's

To make an appointment or learn more about our program, call us at 412-692-8650.