PR85678

GENEVA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- Cleft lip and palate (clefts) are the most common birth difference of the

face and mouth and impact the development of the mouth, gums, and palate.

- Regular and focused dental care should be integrated into cleft care to help

address oral hygiene challenges and prevent oral disease.

- FDI World Dental Federation (FDI)( https://www.fdiworlddental.org/ )and Smile

Train ( https://www.smiletrain.org/ ) are releasing new Oral Health in

Comprehensive Cleft Care guidelines to empower local cleft teams with training

and resources to improve oral health

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 ( https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/about-us/smile-train-partnership/ ) 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.

Through the release of these new guidelines, FDI and Smile Train hope to

empower local cleft teams with training and resources to improve oral health

and provide comprehensive oral healthcare. To learn more about the guidelines,

providers are encouraged to join the FDI Oral Health Campus webinar on 29

September at 15:00 BST where they will be released for the first time

(https://www.fdioralhealthcampus.org/webinar/oral-health-in-comprehensive-cleft-care/ ).

You can register for the webinar here.

In this webinar, the panel of FDI and Smile Train experts will present the Oral

Health in Comprehensive Cleft Care guidelines (https://www.fdiworlddental.org/sites/default/files/media/prgm20-039_-_oral_health_in_ccc_v5_digital_1.pdf ),

discuss the oral health challenges that people with treated or untreated

clefts often face, and offer clear solutions to optimize patients' well-being,

ensuring that they're able to eat, speak, breathe, and swallow.

Rehabilitation and care of children with clefts often involves the core

specialties of nursing, plastic surgery, paediatric 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," said FDI President Dr Gerhard K. Seeberger. "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," said Smile Train President and CEO Susannah Schaefer. "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," said GSK Global Category Lead Oral

Health Jayant Singh. "Comprehensive cleft care is a key focus of the work we

support with Smile Train and FDI. We are so excited about the release of these

guidelines, which we think will serve as a transformative and indispensable

tool for the entire cleft care team."

Join us at the webinar!(https://www.fdioralhealthcampus.org/webinar/oral-health-in-comprehensive-cleft-care/ )

15:00 (BST) 29 September 2020

Picture: AP Images (http://www.apimages.com )

Media Contact:

Charanjit Jagait, FDI Communications and Advocacy Director

Tel: +41 797967613

SOURCE: FDI World Dental Federation