Oral Health

As part of Operation Smile’s comprehensive care model, our dental team provides guidance about oral health prevention to every patient and caregiver.

Access to oral health care is essential to achieving health equity.

Oral diseases affect almost half of the world’s population with a greater burden of disease falling on vulnerable population. In fact, 3 out of 4 people living in low- and middle-income countries is affected by oral disease.

Unfortunately, this situation is made worse by an unequal distribution of oral health care providers. Only 2% of oral health providers work in low-income countries. Since oral health providers tend to live in urban centers and in more affluent areas, health services tend to be inaccessible to much of the population who live in rural areas.

“Oral health has long been neglected in the global health agenda.”
— Dr. Tedros Abhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organizations

Patients with cleft conditions are at a heightened risk of oral disease. They are challenged by the unfavorable oral function of their condition, social isolation and limited oral health knowledge.

But Operation Smile is working to change that. We believe that all people, regardless of where they live and their income, should have access to the care, knowledge and tools needed to maintain good oral health.

By the Numbers

Operation Smile delivers oral health care and builds needed workforce capacity where it’s needed most.

60k

Patients

500+

Dentists Who Volunteer Their Time and Talent

37

Countries Where Operation Smile Provides Dental Care

Our Approach

Operation Smile transforms lives and communities by increasing access to oral health services for underserved communities in the countries where we work.

Prevention

Oral health programs educate patients and their families on the importance of preventative care. Treating cavities and providing cleanings are necessary before surgery and for lasting hygiene. We develop customized programs including:

– School and community-based dental prevention
– Interactive tooth brushing and flossing demonstrations
– Gift bags with toothpaste, floss and toothbrushes

Treatment

We deliver dental treatment for patients with cleft conditions and follow their care from infancy to adulthood. Our dental programs deliver timely and effective care across five areas:

– Neonatal pre-surgical orthopedics in infancy
– Pediatric dentistry in early childhood
– General dentistry in childhood
– Orthodontics in adolescence
– Prosthodontics in adulthood

Education

To promote bi-directional learning between oral health providers globally, we facilitate exchanges between dental students and residents of our partner dental schools. Every year:

– Dental students, residents and faculty participate in global exchanges.
– Trainees travel internationally for a one-week education experience.
– The group attends an educational visit at a program country.