Word On The Cleft Dental Crisis

This week on 'Word On Health', Paul Pennington caught up with the CEO of the Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA) www.clapa.com to talk about their national Cleft Dental Crisis campaign. (You can hear our radio report again at the bottom of this page)

Every year in the UK, around one in every 700 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Thanks to advances in surgery and specialist care, most children born with a cleft can go on to thrive. But there’s one area of support that families say is reaching breaking point – access to essential dental and orthodontic care.

What is the Cleft Dental Crisis? People born with a cleft often experience a range of dental and oral health issues, including missing teeth, extra teeth, gum problems, enamel problems, and alignment issues that require specialist orthodontic care. These treatments aren’t optional – they are an essential part of cleft care and are meant to be provided as part of the NHS pathway.

Cleft is for life – and so are the complex dental issues that often come with it. Yet people born with a cleft lip and/or palate are disproportionately unable to access the dental care they need. In some cases, they are even explicitly denied treatment because of their cleft. 

Being born with a cleft significantly increases the likelihood of dental problems. Children with a cleft are around one-third more likely to have missing teeth, decay or fillings, and adults are around one-quarter more likely compared to the general population. 

Despite this, CLAPA’s survey shows: 

• People with a cleft are twice as likely to have issues accessing dental care. 
• 42% have experienced inadequate care due to lack of training. 
• 38% cannot afford treatment linked to their cleft.
• Over 7% have been explicitly denied treatment because of their cleft. 

CLAPA warns that unless urgent action is taken, generations of children born with a cleft will suffer preventable long-term dental, emotional, and health consequences.

What CLAPA Is Calling For

• Improving Access: Guarantee lifelong NHS dental care for people born with a cleft.
• Improving Training: Ensure every dentist receives cleft training at undergraduate level and through mandated ongoing development.
• Improving Care: Strengthen multi-disciplinary working so dentistry and orthodontics are integrated in cleft treatment pathways.
• Improving Transparency: Commit to regular monitoring and reporting on dental access for priority groups, including cleft.

Listen to this weeks radio report