The Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs represented by the Cleft Holistic Division, held the Cleft Holistic Care: Healing the Smile Conference on the 16th and 17th of September 2014 in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Dentistry in King Abdulaziz Medical City – Riyadh.
The aim of the conference was to educate medical professionals about facial and neck Cleft Holistic Care in addition to provide the latest evidence-based knowledge, experience and technology in each specialty that involves cleft treatment and care.
Dr. Samar AlHayek, the director of Cleft Holistic Program in King Abdulaziz Medical City - Riyadh pointed out that the conference will be held for two days, with the participation of a number of specialists in the field of craniofacial anomalies (CFA) and cleft lip/palate (CLP) to share and exchange their expertise and modern techniques.
Dr. Samar also confirmed that the importance of this conference lies in finding out the best solutions in assisting patients and their families as well as raising their awareness, as the cleft lip/palate affects one out of 700 newborns. Pointing out that those children may have to visit the hospital until the age of 18, or in some cases even older.