Changing The World One Smile At A Time

Changing The World One Smile At A Time

The Smile Train

Smile Train is a non-profit charity organization based in New York. Comprehensive treatment is provided to hospitals in 87 countries globally for the babies born with cleft lip and palate. For the past 20 years, they have provided safe, high-quality, free cleft lip & palate treatment and care to 1.5 million children

Your Duty

The biggest help you can do if a baby in your family, neighborhood is born with cleft lip & palate is to provide them with information about Smile Train. Within a week of the baby’s birth, bring the child to a smile train unit to undergo PNAM. Inform the parents that this disorder can be cured with timely treatment. All treatment and related expenses at Smile Train approved hospital are free. Therefore, they should be encouraged to come forward without being averse to treatment Helps to improve the shape of the nose, lip & alveolus. This preparation will also help improve the results of other upcoming surgeries. It is advisable to start PNAM within a week of birth.

Primary Lip Repair Surgery (Cheiloplasty)

This surgery should be done when the baby is three months old or weighs 5 kg. Cheiloplasty involves suturing the retracted lip. With this, the gap in the lips will be completely changed.

Primary Palate Repair Surgery (Palatoplasty)

This surgery should be done when the baby is 9 months old or weighs 8 kg. This involves suturing the gap at the top of the mouth. With this, the gap on the upper surface of the mouth will be completely healed.

Speech Therapy / Language Therapy

This is a long-term process. It needs to start as soon as the baby starts talking. This will enable the baby to communicate better.

Orthodontic Treatments

The teeth appear irregularly in the gum. This can be fixed by attaching clips.

Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting (SABG)

Usually there is no bone in the cleft alveolus region, teeth do not naturally form in those areas. SABG is a surgery that corrects this alveolar defect. Bone is collected from some other place in the body and attached to this part. This defect is not visible to the naked eye as it is under the gums. Later permanent dentition will grow to cover this defect. The best age for this surgery is between 9 and 11 years of age when the permanent teeth begin to grow.

Dental Treatment Needed

Dental treatments to correct problems such as tooth decay can be taken on time. DISTRACTION / ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY Surgery to correct facial deformities and jaw irregularities is best done between the ages of 14 and 18.

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty surgery to correct nasal deformity is preferably done at the age of 18.

Psychological Counselling (For Children And Parents)

The birth of a child with disabilities creates an unpleasant experience for parents and relatives. Accusations and rejections are faced at this point and this can keep them from undergoing timely treatments. A mental preparation is necessary during this period. Along with this, the child needs to be supported in terms of self-confidence, mental ability, IQ and intellectual development. Counseling sessions led by psychiatrists and psychologists will benefit them.

Speech Surgery

Children with speech impediments can recover speech through speech surgery.

Pediatric Checkups

Every stage of the child’s growth needs to be monitored. Therefore, children need to be examined by a pediatrician at regular intervals. Malnourished children can also seek the services of a nutritionist.

#GIVING NEW SIMLE

#GIVING NEW LIFE