FDI and Smile Train Launch Two-Year Initiative to Enhance Oral Health Care for Children with Cleft Lip and Palate

Geneva, September 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

With the support of GSK Consumer Healthcare, the FDI World Dental Federation and Smile Train, two non-profit oral health organizations, will jointly launch a two-year project aimed at improving oral health guidance and continuous care for children with cleft lip and palate.

FDI and Smile Train will jointly develop oral health educational resources for dentists and other members of cleft lip and palate care teams. They will also produce materials to educate patients with cleft lip and palate and their families about the importance of oral health, raise awareness of oral health care challenges beyond cleft surgery, and provide essential oral health guidance.

FDI Chair Catherine KierKathryn Kell) Dr. said, "Globally, one in every 700 children is born with a cleft lip or palate. In India alone, we estimate that 100 babies with cleft lip or palate are born each day, and many of these children do not survive. In the United States, a baby with a cleft lip or palate is born every 75 minutes. FDI is committed to providing support for this vulnerable patient population."

Rehabilitation and care for children with cleft lip and palate typically involve core specialties such as nursing, plastic surgery, pediatric dentistry, speech therapy, and orthodontics. Most of these services are unavailable in low- and middle-income countries, meaning that many patients with cleft lip and palate never receive the comprehensive treatment and care they need. Smile Train has been working to change this situation by providing training and resources to local cleft care teams, helping them deliver high-quality cleft care services.

Susannah Schaefer, President and CEO of Smile Train, stated, “Our goal is to highlight the critical role dentists play within the cleft lip and palate care team. Providing regular dental care for children with cleft lip and palate is essential to helping them manage the risk of oral diseases. For oral health professionals, it is important to provide oral hygiene guidance to patients with cleft lip and palate and their families, helping them maintain oral health and achieve the highest possible quality of life.”

Jayant Singh, Global Head of Oral Health at GSK, stated, “At GSK, we recognize that healthy teeth and good oral health and hygiene are vital for everyone, including those affected by conditions such as cleft lip and palate. Comprehensive cleft care is a key focus area of our partnership with Smile Train, and general dental practitioners play a crucial role in this regard. This is why we are delighted that the FDI has chosen to collaborate with Smile Train on this important two-year project, which has the potential to transform the lives of its beneficiaries, and that GSK is able to provide funding for this initiative.”