Focused dental care should be integrated into cleft care

Around the world, a baby is born with a cleft about every three minutes. Many children with clefts have severe difficulties eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. What's more, even after having cleft surgery, these children often have a higher risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues.

The diverse team of healthcare providers caring for a patient with a cleft have an important role to play in supporting that person's oral health and overall well-being. This is why oral health nonprofits FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) and Smile Train have joined forces with support from GSK Consumer Healthcare to launch guidelines for oral health professionals and the wider cleft care team to help reduce oral disease and improve oral health in people born with clefts.