PR91967

GENEVA, September 30, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) releases new educational resources to mark

World Smile Day®

Globally, every three minutes a baby is born with a cleft, that's 540 babies

every day. Babies born with a cleft often struggle to eat, breathe, hear,

speak, and thrive. Every child has the right to good oral health, which is why

FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) joined forces with Smile Train, to launch new

educational resources

(https://fdiworlddental.org/oral-health-comprehensive-cleft-care), aimed at

improving the quality of life for people born with clefts.

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) –

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. Children

with clefts are also uniquely susceptible to poor oral health and are commonly

affected by missing, extra, or malformed teeth and facial structures. Even

children who receive cleft surgery are at an increased risk for caries,

periodontal disease, and other oral health and well-being challenges as they

grow and develop.

The resources, which were developed with support from GSK Consumer Healthcare,

aim to give every child a reason to smile this World Smile Day® through the

delivery of optimal oral healthcare. The material includes guidelines for

dentists and other key members of the cleft care team as well as resources for

patients, families, and communities, which highlight the importance of oral

health, explain the challenges of oral healthcare beyond cleft surgery, and

provide vital oral health guidance.  

"As oral health professionals, we know the long-term impact that oral diseases

can have on the overall health, development and well-being of children and

adults," said FDI President-Elect Prof. Ihsane Ben Yahya. "By ensuring

individuals with cleft receive timely surgery and oral healthcare we can

safeguard their integration into society, give them self-confidence and the

potential to succeed in their scholarship".

"The partnership between Smile Train and FDI with the support of GSK Consumer

Healthcare, and the resources that have resulted from this shared commitment to

advancing oral health for vulnerable populations, will change lives for

generations to come," said Smile Train President and CEO Susannah Schaefer.

GSK Consumer Healthcare has pledged to continue its tremendous support of the

initiative between FDI and Smile Train, including the delivery of workshops

using the new education resources and the development of an education platform

of recorded sessions and family-focused instructional videos on cleft oral

health.

"At GSK Consumer Healthcare, we are on a mission to eradicate preventable oral

health problems and we believe in the importance of good oral health and

hygiene for all, especially for those living with clefts," said GSK Oral Health

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

support with Smile Train and FDI. We are proud of the progress being achieved

by the release of these resources, which we hope will serve as a transformative

and indispensable tool for the entire cleft care team".

Read the resources and start making a difference to the oral health of our

future generations. You can also view the webinar

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

care-2/) to learn more about the content.

Media Contacts

Chaz Jagait, FDI Communications and Advocacy Director

Mob.: +41 79 796 76 13; Email: cjagait@fdiworlddental.org

Nijha Diggs, Senior Director, Public Relations, Smile Train

Email: ndiggs@smiletrain.org

SOURCE: FDI World Dental Federation