Cleft Alveolus vs. Alveolus Notch

Left picture: This newborn has a broad cleft lip alveolus; probably, the palate is involved, too. Right picture: In this case a less severe form of a cleft lip alveolus is present. On looking closely, a fine notch is recognizable at the border of the right upper jaw 1cm apart from the midline. This abortive form of cleft alveolus is mainly of prognostic value for the permanent teeth close to the cleft because anomalies in the position and in the number of the permanent teeth are possible.

In both patients a cleft of the right lip is recognizable, but to a different degree. Left picture: In this newborn the cleft lip is very wide and the right nasal wing is shiftet substantially in a lateral direction. In addition, a view into the oral and nasal cavity is possible by a broad cleft alveolus. Right picture: The upper lip is not split totally in this infant and the deformity of the right nostril is less obvious; striking is the size of the right nostril and the shape of the nasal wing in comparison to the left side. The sight into the oral cavity is inadequate.