Birmingham Cleft Lip

Are you looking for cleft lip care in Birmingham, AL?

At Backus Smiles Orthodontics, we bring more than twenty years of orthodontic training to the children and families we help.

If your child was born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, you likely have questions about how their smile and bite will develop over the years ahead. We provide Birmingham, AL cleft lip orthodontic care that supports children from their earliest visits through the final stage of treatment. Backus Smiles Orthodontics works alongside the surgeons and specialists guiding your child, so the dental and orthodontic pieces fit into the larger plan. Every family is welcome to start with a visit and an honest conversation. Schedule an appointment whenever the time feels right.

Cleft Lip Care Birmingham, AL

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the more common conditions a baby can be born with. They happen when the lip or the roof of the mouth does not fully come together before birth, and they can affect feeding, speech, hearing, and the way the teeth come in. According to CDC birth defects data, about 1 in 1,031 babies in the United States is born with a cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate, so Birmingham families are far from alone.

Our practice focuses on the orthodontic side of that care. We guide how the teeth and jaws develop, and we coordinate closely with the surgeons and other specialists caring for your child. The aim is steady, and it stays the same at every stage: a healthy bite and a confident smile as your child grows.

Cleft Lip Services We Offer in Birmingham

Cleft care unfolds over several years, and orthodontics plays a part at more than one point along the way. The services below are the pieces we handle for children with a cleft lip or palate, always in step with the rest of their care.

• Early orthodontic evaluation. We begin watching a child’s growth from a young age, well before braces, so treatment can be timed to the right stage of development.
• Dentofacial orthopedics. As a child grows, we help guide the development of the jaws and the width of the dental arches.
• Presurgical and postsurgical orthodontics. Braces and appliances are often used to align the teeth before an alveolar bone graft and to refine the bite afterward.
• Braces for teeth near the cleft. Teeth around a cleft can come in crowded, rotated, or out of position, and braces bring them into a healthier alignment.
• Palatal expansion and arch development. A narrow upper arch can be widened to make room for the teeth and to improve how the upper and lower teeth meet.
• Planning for missing or misshapen teeth. When a tooth is missing near the cleft, we help hold or create space and coordinate with a restorative dentist for the future.
• Coordination with your child’s specialists. We work with oral surgeons, ENT physicians, and speech professionals so the timing of each step lines up.
• Retention and long-term follow-up. Once the smile is complete, retainers hold the result while we monitor growth through the remaining childhood years.

Why Choose Backus Smiles Orthodontics for Cleft Lip Care in Birmingham, AL?

Experience Guiding Growing Smiles

Dr. Dominique Backus has cared for orthodontic patients since earning her specialty certificate in 2000, with a background in dentistry that reaches back to 1997. She holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and an Advanced Education in General Dentistry certificate, and she is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Birmingham District Dental Society. Much of cleft care happens during childhood, when growth is fast and timing matters, and years of guiding young smiles shape how she plans each stage. As a Birmingham orthodontist, she treats every child with patience and a clear explanation of what comes next.

Care Coordinated With Your Child’s Specialists

Orthodontics is one piece of cleft care, not the whole of it. We coordinate with the surgeons and specialists on your child’s plan, following the coordinated, multi-specialist approach championed by the American Cleft Palate Association. That means the timing of growth guidance, braces, and any surgery is planned together rather than in isolation. We also work with a range of insurance plans and offer flexible payment options, and families are welcome to begin with a complimentary first visit.

Understanding Cleft Lip Care

Cleft treatment is a long relationship, not a single appointment, and it helps to know the shape of it before you begin. The overview below walks through what we treat, roughly when each stage tends to happen, and how to prepare for a first visit.

Conditions We Treat and Treatment Options

Orthodontic care for a cleft is about more than straight teeth. Good alignment makes it easier to clean the teeth, chew comfortably, and support clear speech, and it sets the stage for any restorative work later on. Crowding and a narrow arch are common signs you need braces in a child with a cleft, and we will explain which options fit your child’s situation.

We commonly help with:

• Teeth that come in crowded, rotated, or turned near the cleft
• A narrow upper arch that needs gentle widening
• Gaps where a tooth is missing or did not form
• Differences in how the upper and lower jaws meet
• Alignment needed before or after a bone graft or other surgery

Braces guide teeth into place with steady, gentle pressure and help correct bite problems that often come with a cleft. Because cleft care starts young, many families first meet us for early orthodontics rather than a full set of braces.

What Is the Typical Treatment Timeline?

Because a cleft is treated alongside a child’s growth, orthodontic care arrives in phases rather than all at once.

• Early visits in the toddler and preschool years, mostly to watch growth
• A first phase of orthodontics as the permanent teeth begin to come in
• Coordination with surgery, such as a bone graft, when the timing is right
• A later phase of braces to finish aligning the bite, often in the teen years
• Retention and monitoring once the smile is complete

Cleft care is staged over childhood, and every child moves at their own pace. We give a realistic sense of the road ahead after meeting your child, rather than a fixed schedule that treats every case the same.

What Should You Expect from Cleft Lip Care?

Visits are built around your child’s comfort and your understanding of each step along the way.

• A gentle, unhurried first visit centered on your child’s comfort
• Plain explanations at each stage, without heavy jargon
• Regular coordination with the surgeons and specialists on the plan
• Practical guidance for parents, including adjusting to braces when that stage arrives
• Support for the small daily habits, such as caring for braces, that keep teeth healthy during treatment

What Should You Bring to Your First Visit?

A few items help us understand your child’s history and get started without delay.

• Your insurance card and a photo ID
• Records from your child’s other providers, including any imaging or surgical history
• A list of any medications your child takes
• Your questions about timing, treatment, and cost

The first visit is about listening. We look, we answer your questions, and we explain where orthodontics fits before anyone commits to a plan.

Important Alabama Cleft and Orthodontic Resources

Many parents want to read more and confirm credentials before treatment begins. These sources offer reliable, independent information:

• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, for cleft prevalence data and research
• The Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, for license verification of any provider in the state
• Your child’s cleft and craniofacial specialists, who can speak to the surgical and medical parts of care

These resources are meant for general education. They do not replace an in-person evaluation, which is the only way to understand what your child specifically needs.

Contact Backus Smiles Orthodontics

If you have questions about Birmingham cleft lip care for your child, we are here to listen. Contact us to request a visit, and we will find a time that works for your family. Backus Smiles Orthodontics will review your child’s needs, explain where orthodontics fits into cleft care, and coordinate with the other providers on the plan. There is no rush and no pressure, only clear guidance and steady support as your child grows.