Normal palate
The roof of the mouth is known as the palate. The hard palate is in the front, closer to the teeth. The soft palate is in the back, toward the throat.
Examples of cleft palate
In cleft palate, the roof of the mouth (palate) has an opening (cleft) that may go through to the nasal cavity. This birth defect is corrected with one or more surgeries.
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| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology |
| Last Revised | January 21, 2010 |
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