Partnering to provide safe and high quality cleft care
In 2021, Dentsply Sirona entered into a five-year renewable partnership with Smile Train , the world’s largest cleft organization. The partnership is driven by the shared ambition to further the provision of safe, high quality, and expert cleft care from diagnosis through to comprehensive care delivery — using the most advanced dental technology resources to serve the complete patient care continuum. To support our partnership, we have announced a $5 million donation to Smile Train. It further includes:
- Dentsply Sirona International Smile Train Scholars program: This program will support in-person and virtual training and provide learning opportunities for Smile Train dental partners
- Clinical Education program: Providing free access to the full online Dentsply Sirona Clinical Education curriculum for all Smile Train oral health professionals
- Technology, R&D and innovation: Providing R&D and innovation know-how, including state-of-the-art technology and equipment to improve access to the best possible care for children affected by clefts.
- Developing and outfitting treatment centers
The need for cleft care
Globally, 1 in 700 babies are born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Clefts can have devastating effects on the quality of a child's life, both physically by compromising the ability to communicate and to eat properly and from social stigma resulting in feelings of anxiety and a lack of self-confidence. A child with a cleft requires more than just surgery. Essential cleft care includes nutrition programs, dental and orthodontic care, speech therapy, as well as social and emotional support.
Advancing the future of and access to cleft care
Smile Train is the largest cleft-focused organization with a model of true sustainability - providing training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 70+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft surgery and other forms of essential cleft care in their own communities. For over 20 years, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for more than 1.5 million children in over 90 countries around the world.
Smile Train's sustainable model empowers local medical professionals to provide free cleft surgery and essential cleft care in their own communities. That's why, in September 2021, Dentsply Sirona has launched a five-year partnership with Smile Train to increase access to cleft care globally and to build a brighter, safer, healthier future for patients affected by cleft worldwide.
“We are pleased to welcome Dentsply Sirona on board as a corporate partner. This five-year partnership comes at a pivotal moment for Smile Train and will help advance the future of cleft care by supporting global treatment standards and best practices for digitalized cleft orthodontics. We are grateful for Dentsply Sirona’s generous support and look forward to working together to raise awareness about and deepen our impact around cleft.”
Smile Train — Dentsply Sirona Colombia Donation
By donating one of our most advanced products to a Smile Train treatment center in Bogotá, we eliminate a life-threatening risk for the patients and reduce the treatment path – which for a child with cleft, lasts for what may seem forever.
Babies born with clefts are more likely to suffer cavities, tooth decay, and have extra or missing teeth, among many other urgent dental issues and early dental care is important to prevent pain. Using Primescan to take an intraoral scan as the first step of the treatment makes it more comfortable for babies and prevents the use of gooey impression material. In addition, dentists can easily create individual digital treatment plans and families save trips to the treatment facility.
Explore Our Sustainability
