One Goal: To Give Every Child the Chance to Smile
Smile Train is an international children’s charity that supports 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children globally. Our sustainable model empowers local medical professionals to provide cleft care in their own communities.
ONE GOAL : To Smile For Free of Cost
No one knows exactly, but most experts agree that the causes of cleft lip and/or palate are multifactorial and may include a genetic predisposition, as well as environmental or nutritional factors. In most cases, it is not known what has caused a cleft lip and/or palate, but research is ongoing to better understand the condition.
What challenges does a child with an untreated cleft face?
Not only do most children with untreated clefts live in isolation, making it hard for them to find friends or go to school, but more importantly, children with untreated clefts can have difficulties eating, breathing, and speaking, and are at risk of severe malnutrition.
What is cleft lip and/or palate?
A cleft occurs when certain body parts and structures do not fuse together during fetal development. Clefts can involve the lip and/or the roof of the mouth (palate).