Operation Smile is committed to supporting both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding mothers whose infants have cleft conditions. Breastfeeding an infant born with a cleft can be particularly challenging, so we support them through education like safe breastmilk expression techniques. We also provide specialized cleft drinking bottles, formula options, and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a nutrient-rich peanut paste, to aid in the infants’ nutrition and overall well-being. Regular follow-ups to monitor growth are provided, like all of our services, free-of-charge to the family.

Operation Smile dentists also develop temporary solutions until surgery is possible, like creating custom feeding plates from a mold of a patient’s palate. This closes the gap caused by a cleft lip or palate and allows an infant to latch and feed. Molded devices like this can be created in 1 hour, providing emergency intervention to infants facing starvation.

Children born with cleft conditions often experience unique dental differences that require specialized attention and care. These differences can include missing, extra, misshapen, or displaced teeth, as well as issues with dental alignment and the position of the tongue. It not only affects the aesthetics of the smile but also impacts speech development, oral function, and overall oral health. Understanding and addressing these dental differences are crucial aspects of comprehensive care for individuals with cleft lip and palate.

Medical or surgical procedures can be highly stressful for children and their families, particularly when they involve potential pain or invasiveness. Children living with unrepaired cleft conditions often encounter added challenges related to their health, development, and mental well-being. These challenges may include facing internalized and societal stigma and experiences of bullying or social exclusion.

A critical aspect of psychosocial care is preparing children for upcoming surgeries, a process known to reduce anxiety. This preparation involves age-appropriate education about their condition and procedures, dispelling any misunderstandings, teaching coping skills, role-playing coping techniques, and actively involving parents in the preparation process. Through this approach, children and their caregivers gain a clearer understanding of what to expect during surgery and hospitalization, which significantly aids in their ability to cope with the experience.

An estimated 5 million individuals, around the globe, are living with untreated cleft conditions. Our education and training signature initiatives were born out of this staggering statistic. Through these programs, we are empowering women in medicine, offering unparalleled access to mentorship, creating training and fellowship opportunities, providing healthcare workers with open-source training tools to increase their skills and knowledge, and investing in healthcare infrastructure in places of need around the world – all leading to the ultimate goal of helping more children.