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Updated: May 2, 2026

Quantification of Orofacial Phenotypes in Xenopus
Published on: November 6, 2014
Classification, epidemiology, and genetics of orofacial clefts
Stephanie E Watkins1, Robert E Meyer2, Ronald P Strauss3
1Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1700 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Abstract:
Orofacial clefts (OFCs) include a broad range of facial conditions that differ in cause and disease burden. In the published literature, there is substantial ambiguity in both terminology and classification of OFCs. This article discusses the terminology and classification of OFCs and the epidemiology of OFCs. Demographic, environmental, and genetic risk factors for OFCs are described, including suggestions for family counseling. This article enables clinicians to counsel families regarding the occurrence and recurrence of OFCs. Although much of the information is detailed, it is intended to be accessible to all health professionals for use in their clinical practices.
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