The Oral Health Foundation has voiced concern over new findings showing that many people born with a cleft face significant barriers to accessing dental care.

New research from the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) found that people with a cleft are twice as likely to experience difficulties accessing dental treatment. More than two-in-five (42%) report receiving inadequate care because of a lack of professional training and understanding, while nearly two-in-five (38%) say they cannot afford treatment for cleft-related dental issues.

Alarmingly, around one-in-fourteen (7%) have been refused treatment altogether because of their cleft.

The charity believes the findings highlight unacceptable inequalities in access to oral healthcare and demonstrate the need for urgent improvements in training, access and coordination of care.

Dr Rachael England, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Oral Health Foundation, says: "These findings are deeply concerning and highlight inequalities that should not exist within modern healthcare. People born with a cleft often require ongoing dental support throughout their lives, yet too many are struggling to access the care they need.

"Good oral health is fundamental to overall health, wellbeing and quality of life. Nobody should face additional barriers to treatment because of a condition they were born with. The fact that some patients report being unable to access appropriate care, or even being refused treatment altogether, demonstrates why this issue demands greater attention from policymakers, commissioners and the dental profession alike."

"As a healthcare system, we have made tremendous progress in cleft care over recent decades. However, these findings suggest that too many patients continue to fall through the gaps once specialist treatment pathways come to an end."

Dr Rachael England, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Oral Health Foundation.

Following the publication of the findings, the Oral Health Foundation and NHS England South West, hosted a webinar earlier this evening. It brought together patient advocates, clinicians and dental professionals to discuss the growing concerns around access to dental care for people born with a cleft.

Organised by Dr England and hosted by NHS England South West’s Lucy Silk, the event explored the challenges highlighted by the survey and the actions needed to improve access, training and joined-up care.

The session featured presentations from Lachlan Bruce at CLAPA, Professor Peter Mossey from the University of Dundee and Elizabeth Shick from the University of Colorado. Attendees also heard from two cleft patients and their personal experiences of accessing dental services.

The Oral Health Foundation is now adding its support for calls to:

• Guarantee lifelong NHS dental care for people born with a cleft.
• Deliver consistent cleft education and training across the dental profession.
• Strengthen integration between dentistry and specialist cleft treatment pathways.
• Improve transparency and accountability around access to dental care for people with cleft conditions.

Dr England adds: "By bringing people together in this webinar, we hope to shine a spotlight on these challenges, amplify the experiences of the cleft community and support meaningful action to improve access to care.

"The cleft community has spoken clearly about the challenges they face. Now is the time for healthcare leaders, policymakers and the profession to listen and work together to ensure that everybody can access the care they need throughout their lives."

The Oral Health Foundation encourages policymakers, healthcare leaders and dental professionals to consider the findings and support efforts to improve access to dental care for the cleft community.

The Oral Health Foundation is supporting CLAPA's End the Cleft Dental Crisis campaign, which is calling for urgent action to improve access to dental care, strengthen professional training and ensure better support for people born with a cleft throughout their lives.

Dental professionals and members of the public can learn more about the campaign and add their name to CLAPA's open letter here:

Sign CLAPA's open letter

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Read more

• Oral Health Foundation Library: Children with cleft lip and/or palate