Smile Train, Dentsply Sirona, and FDI World Dental Federation have renewed their partnership to enhance global cleft care through digitalization, they said in a press release on July 15.
Smile Train is considered as the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, while Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest manufacturer of dental products and technologies. The FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) is regarded as the global voice of the dental profession.
The organizations aim to expand access to digital cleft treatment education and support the adoption of new standards. Their efforts include the 2023 Open Online Course on ‘Digital Dentistry in Cleft Care’ and the development of the first-ever global standard protocols for digitalized cleft treatment.
“I am pleased to be able to continue our partnership and raise the bar even further as we empower more cleft professionals to deliver cutting-edge cleft care to children in their community,” says Dr. Greg Chadwick, president of the FDI World Dental Federation.
“The ground-breaking work we have seen over the past few years to advance digital cleft care is a fantastic example of what we can achieve by working together.”
New educational materials
Last year’s protocols are set to improve treatment accuracy by providing a comprehensive digital clinical approach. They include presentations, quizzes, videos, and discussion boards, and will soon be available in multiple languages. Additionally, new educational materials will demonstrate stages of the digital cleft care workflow.
Andrea Frohning of Dentsply Sirona highlights the transformative impact of digital technologies like intraoral scanners and 3D printing. Dr. Greg Chadwick of FDI and Susannah Schaefer of Smile Train emphasize the power of collaboration in advancing cleft care and supporting professionals worldwide.
Clefts affect 1 in 700 children globally, with a baby born with a cleft every 75 minutes in the U.S. alone, according to FDI.
For more from the press release, please click HERE.
