Chief teratogenic factors in facial abnormalities

Congenital anomalies of the face mainly originate in chromosomal and teratogenic factors. Cleft lip and cleft palate are common anomalies of the face and palate. Cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, occurs about once in 1000 births. Cleft palate occurs about once in 2500 births. Most cases of cleft lip and palate are determined by multiple factors, genetic and nongenetic, each causing only a minor developmental disturbance. This is called multifactorial inheritance. The purpose of this study is a review on teratogenic factors with action on the newborn face.