Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Cleft Gene Test

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, November 01, 2004

Researchers are isolating the genetic markers that increase the risk of a common birth defect: cleft lip and palate. Dr. Linda Niessen looks at the latest findings and what they mean to women planning to get pregnant in this Dental Health Check.

A new genetic test can screen for about 15 percent of cases of cleft lip and palate. One in every 600 babies in the u.s. is born with a cleft defect and no other problems. These cases are called isolated and are not associated with other birth defects.

"What they've identified is a marker gene that obviously piggy backs along with whatever the mutated gene is." Dr. Lynne Opperman at Baylor College of Dentistry studies genetic defects and how the human face and skull develops before birth.

"Plan your family. In order words, decide when you want to get pregnant." Dr. Opperman says women who plan to get pregnant should focus on factors they can control, not genetics.

"When you decide you want to get pregnant, stop all those bad habits you have. Stop smoking. Stop drinking."

The cleft lip or palate defect occurs within the first eight weeks of fetal development.

"And the problem is that the face develops so early on that by the time you find out that you are pregnant, your baby already has a face. And any anomalies that are associated with your bad habits have already happened."

Eat a healthy diet. Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid. "You can prevent birth defects by living a healthy lifestyle."

While science continues to unravel the mystery of cleft lip and palate, the lifestyle cause are well known. So before getting pregnant, you should stop smoking and drinking. Your baby's face depends upon it. for Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M system, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 news.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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