It's called cleft lip and palate, a condition that affects 1 in 1000 babies. It occurs when the tissue in the developing mouth and the palate don't fuse together properly.

The condition can lead to serious abnormalities and can only be corrected with surgery. But a relatively new dental procedure can improve surgical results.

"It's a pain in the butt most days, and she hates it," said Lindsay Ebbrecht.

Ebbrecht's three month old daughter, Sierra, was born with cleft lip and plate.

"It's not an ideal situation. No one wants to hear that there's something wrong," Ebbrecht said.

When Sierra was born her cleft was 17 millimeters wide. A gap that needed to be closed before she could even be considered for plastic surgery.

"Cleft lip and palate is certainly treatable," said Dr. Jeff Karp of the Eastman Dental School.

Sierra's mom drives from Emira to Rochester once a week for treatment. Dr. Jeff Karp fitted Sierra with nam, a molding fitted for the babies mouth. It works by moving segments of the gum closer together.

"To make the cleft gap less severe, to help to align the nose before surgery, and it really makes the surgical outcome a lot more aesthetic," Karp said. In just a short amount of time, Sierra's nam has reduced her cleft to a few centimeters. For Sierra and her family, there's been some sleepless nights along the way.

"But it's definitely worth it for the long run. Although she doesn't know it now. She gets really mad," said Ebbrecht. But there's still a long way to go. Years of management and follow up surgeries are still ahead. Sierra's mom says that shouldn't be a problem.

"All things considered, shes been quite the little trooper," Ebbrecht.