The Gift of a Smile: The Journey of a Cleft Patient

Smile Train and GSK Consumer Healthcare Support Cleft Orthodontics Webinar by the Association of Philippine Orthodontists

Empowering Dental Professionals Across the Globe

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The world’s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train and GSK Consumer Healthcare supported a three-day Comprehensive Cleft Care Webinar series organized by the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO).

There were 518 participants from 26 countries registered for the webinar series. The highly informative online sessions featured discussions on various stages of cleft treatment for a child born with a cleft, with particular focus on the cleft orthodontics. The impressive panel of speakers included oral and maxillofacial surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, prosthodontist, speech pathologist, and pediatrician, who have many years of cleft and craniofacial experience. Many of the speakers work or have been trained at Smile Train’s partner, the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines.

Also joining the panel was Dr. Alvaro Figueroa, a member of Smile Train’s Global Medical Advisory Board. With more than forty years of experience in treating patients with complex dental problems and craniofacial anomalies, Dr. Figueroa shared his extensive knowledge on orthognathic surgery and treatment protocols for cleft and craniofacial patients.

“Individuals born with a cleft require various types of dental and orthodontic treatments throughout their lifetime,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train Vice President, Southeast Asia. “This webinar series is reflective of our continued commitment to empowering local medical professionals and enabling them to provide safe, quality and timely cleft care for cleft-affected individuals who depend on us.”

“GSK Consumer Healthcare is proud to partner with Smile Train to increase awareness about clefts. Together we are committed to helping more people born with clefts to gain access to quality healthcare and to advance cleft care across the world,” said Emerson Aguinaldo, General Manager, Southeast Asia and Taiwan, GSK Consumer Healthcare. To date our partnership has delivered 13,500 life changing cleft surgeries, training for over 8,800 healthcare professionals, and supported 38,000 families.

In 2021, with the support of GSK Consumer Healthcare and Smile Train, the World Dental Federation (FDI) released Oral Health Guidelines for comprehensive cleft care.

“This webinar series enables orthodontists, and other cleft professionals, not only in the Philippines but in other countries to learn more about the specialized field of cleft orthodontics, and ensure they gain the necessary skills to support cleft-affected individuals,” shared Dr. Janet Pandan, President of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists. “We are proud to work with Smile Train and GSK Consumer Healthcare, and thankful for their continued support as we strengthen the knowledge and capacities not only of our member dentists but also share that knowledge with our fellow practitioners across the region.”

For more information about the GSK Consumer Healthcare Smile Train partnership click here: https://www.gsksmiles.com/en-us/. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in Vietnam, please visit the Facebook page at @SmiletrainVietnam. And you help spread the smiles by donating to Smile Train here: www.smiletrain.org.

About Smile Train

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children's lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.org.

About GSK / GSK Consumer Healthcare

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. We have three global businesses: pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products.

Our world-leading Consumer Healthcare business combines science and consumer insights to create innovative everyday healthcare brands that consumers trust and experts recommend for oral health, pain relief, cold, flu and allergy, digestive health and vitamins, minerals and supplements. We own some of the world’s best loved healthcare brands including Sensodyne, Parodontax, Polident, Volatren, Panadol, and Centrum.

About APO

The Association of Philippine Orthodontists is a specialty organization founded on the ideals of promoting and setting a high standard of excellence in orthodontic treatment and education. The

APO is committed to its role in the comprehensive management of cleft patients and has continuously provided support to the orthodontic needs of cleft patients with Noordhoff Craniofacial Philippines since 2005. Its partnership with Smile Train since 2019 strengthens and reinforces its contribution to the rehabilitation of the cleft patient in collaboration with other specialists.