EVERY three minutes or so, a baby is born with a cleft.
Cleft lip and palate (clefts) are the most common birth difference of the face and mouth.
The condition impacts on the development of the mouth, gums and palate. In fact, many children with clefts have severe difficulties eating, breathing, hearing and speaking.
Even after having cleft surgery, these children often have a higher risk for tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health issues, according to the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) and Smile Train.
FDI is the main representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide, with 200 national member associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries.
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally.
These oral health nonprofit organizations, with support from GSK Consumer Healthcare, have released the ‘’Oral Health in Comprehensive Cleft Care’’ guidelines (https://www.fdiworlddental.org/cleftcare).
GSK is a science-led global healthcare. In 2018, GSK Consumer Healthcare announced a five-year partnership with Smile Train to support their surgical work, medical training, outreach and comprehensive cleft care programs.
The guidelines emphasize that in order to maintain oral hygiene and prevent oral disease, regular dental care should be integrated into cleft care. Both oral health professionals and the wider cleft care team help improve oral health in people born with clefts.
They help ensure that they’re able to eat, speak, breathe and swallow properly.
Rehabilitation and care of children with clefts often involves the core specialties of nursing, plastic surgery, pediatric dentistry, speech therapy and orthodontics.
All members of this cleft care team can contribute to reinforcing the patient’s oral health – ideally, by following a set of agreed and adopted protocols to ensure good interdisciplinary communication.
“Children with clefts suffer disproportionally from oral disease, which can not only affect their overall health and well-being, but also their long-term development,” says Dr. Gerhard K. Seeberger, FDI president.
“Ensuring that the cleft care team is trained to help prevent oral disease is so important. FDI is delighted to share these new guidelines, which we hope will empower the whole team to deliver consistent, quality care to all patients living with clefts.”
“We aim to integrate oral health into the care pathway for children with clefts,” says Susannah Schaefer, Smile Train President and CEO. “Regular dental care for children with clefts is essential to help manage their increased risk for oral disease.
“It’s important for healthcare providers and caregivers to recognize the signs of oral diseases and know how to prevent them. This is the only way to enable people with clefts to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.”
“At GSK, we understand the importance of good oral health and hygiene for all, especially for those living with clefts,” says Jayant Singh, GSK Global Category Lead Oral Health.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, and honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. Honorary Life Member of Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515./PN
