Planet Smile for Kids
- Planet Smile for Kids works with the help and support of professionals from The Hospital for Sick Children/SickKids Hospital, Cleft Lip and Palate/Craniofacial program in Toronto, Canada and professionals from he Cleft/Craniofacial program at BC Children’s Hospital, in Vancouver, Canada.
- These health care professionals are dedicated to providing optimum care for children with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies throughout their growth and development through an interdisciplinary team approach.
- The Cleft Lip and Palate team is comprised of health professionals from 16 different disciplines who believe the team approach is crucial in the provision of comprehensive family centred care. The primary care givers in the team approach are the following: Nurse Coordinator, Paediatrician, Plastic surgeon, Orthodontist, Paediatric Dentist, Audiologist, Speech and Language Pathologist and Social worker.
- One of Planet Smile for Kids Society main goals is assisting in creating long term treatment programs for children with Cleft Lip and Palate and other craniofacial anomalies. A major focus of the society is incorporating inter-professional education for healthcare professionals so that each child has a comprehensive team involved in their treatment and care. The knowledge and techniques that are gained from this education can then be applied to future patients so that every child, no matter where they are from, can receive the best treatment plans and approach to care.
Currently Planet Smile for Kids is working in Vietnam and Mexico with plans to slowly expand throughout South East Asia.
What is Cleft Lip and/or Palate?
- A cleft occurs during fetal development when certain parts and structures do not fuse together. Clefts can include the lip and/or palate which can involve the hard and soft palates (roof of the mouth).
What’s the incidence?
- Cleft lip and/or palate is one of the most common anomalies around the planet affecting 1 in 700 babies born. Research has shown that there is a higher incidence in Asia; approximately 1 in 500 and a lower incidence in babies with African descent; approx. 1 in 1,200.
What are the causes?
- In most cases, it is not known what caused the cleft but research has shown to be a combination of multi-factorial causes that may include a combination of genetic and environmental factors, alcohol and drug use, lack of vitamin B (folic acid), maternal illness during pregnancy and other. Ongoing research is necessary to understand the causes.
What’s the impact of a cleft in a child’s life?
- Many children born with clefts have difficulty feeding, breathing, hearing, speaking, low self-estime, lack of social interaction and the ability to reach their full potential.
How is it treated?
- A comprehensive team approach by specialists working together is necessary to provide the best possible treatment comprised of paediatrician, plastic surgeons, orthodontists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, occupational therapists and other health care providers.
- Our main objective is to provide each child with a comprehensive team of specialists involved in their treatment and care long term to integrate them to society, and live normal, healthy, productive lives and to enable them to reach their full potential.