People of all ages, from all walks of life and from around the world come to us suffering from disorders affecting their faces, mouths, speech and hearing. The causes are numerous, and include birth defects, cancer, head injuries, degenerative diseases and strokes. Their conditions, which are often disfiguring, make it very difficult to eat and speak, limit them physically and socially and erode their confidence.

Our total team approach to their treatment incorporates comprehensive services such as prosthetics, orthodontics, speech therapy, audiology and general dentistry...all available under one roof. Not only are our patients physically rehabilitated; but also, their newfound sense of dignity and ability to communicate with confidence transforms their lives, ultimately enriching the communities where they live.

In 1938 Dr. Herbert K. Cooper, a Lancaster orthodontist, instituted the total team approach to treat patients suffering from cleft lips and palates by establishing The Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic. With support and sponsorship of the Lancaster Rotary Club, it grew to such an extent that by 1947 it was chartered as a non-profit hospital. It was the first full-time independent clinic of its kind in the world and remains the prototype of all other such clinics regionally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Cooper retired in 1966, but his vision and commitment to people with oral, facial and communicative disorders continue to inspire and guide us.

Mission: To provide totally, coordinated treatment for infants, children and adults with oral-facial handicaps and to enhance the quality of care through research, publication and education. Services:

• Medical and Surgical Services
  • Evaluation and diagnosis of cases
  • Determination of treatment plans
  • Surgical procedures - plastic surgery, cranial-facial surgery, orthognathic surgery, oral surgery
  • On-going postoperative follow-up

• Dental and Prosthodontic Services
  • Maxillo-facial Prosthetic Treatment
  • General and Pediatric Dentistry

• Orthodontic Services
  • Diagnostic Services - radiographic analysis, cranio-facial growth analysis
  • Treatment Services - interceptive space management, full banded and bonded treatment, integrated care for specialty problems

• Speech and Hearing Services
  • Evaluation and speech therapy for patients with cleft lip and cleft palate, palatal left prosthesis, velopharyngeal
  • Preschool speech and hearing screenings
  • Hearing Aid fitting and maintenance
  • Hearing and language therapy for children and adults
  • Speech and language therapy for children and adults

• Dental Laboratory Services
• Radiology Services
• Administrative Services

Useful Links

• American Speech, Language and Hearing Association
• Center for Craniofacial Development and Disorders

Provide support to new parents and their child born with a cleft lip and/or palate with a baby basket. Each baby basket contains all of the needed materials for education about cleft lip and palate including treatment choices, care for an infant, and how to feed a child with a cleft. In addition bottles and supplies help new parents find the appropriate instruments for feeding their child. Each bottle can cost up to $17.00 and can be quite costly for a family. We top off the basket with a teddy bear that has a cleft made by Gund. These unique bears can only be distributed to children with clefts and/or other cranio-facial differences. By purchasing a basket for $150, you supply parents with much needed resource materials, bottles for feeding, and a teddy bear for the baby. In addition, each child receiving a basket receives an in-home visit from the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic Nurse Coordinator to ensure the baby is thriving and to link parents to appropriate services as they begin their journey of caring for a baby with a cleft lip and/or palate.