Alveolar cleft; Cleft alveolar process of maxilla; Cleft anterior maxilla; Cleft primary palate
Definition:
Alveolar cleft is a tornado-shaped bone defect in the maxillary arch. Alveolar cleft occurs in response to divergence from normal development during frontonasal prominence growth, contact, and fusion. The most common alveolar portion of the cleft is located between the lateral incisor and the canine.