Operation Smile Programs Overview

Operation Smile Program Overview

Operation Smile Overview

Operation Smile Program Overview

Operation Smile Program Overview

Cleft palate and cleft lip are among the most common birth defects occurring today (NIDCR, 2011). Together, these conditions occur in 0.17% of all births in the United States and between 2004 and 2006 represented 7,088 cases annually. The lifetime healthcare burden of these birth defects in the U.S. is close to $700 million.

Cleft lip/palate represents the failure of tissues to join during fetal development, which can lead to nursing, feeding, and speech problems (MedlinePlus, 2012). As a result, 10% of these children will die within the first year of life (Kraft, 2011). The social stigma associated with the birth defect is also substantial, contributing to the high mortality rate and lifelong social isolation. Children in poverty-stricken areas of the world are particularly vulnerable because they lack access to health...
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