The Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) has announced an initiative to expand access to specialized orthodontic treatment for children and young adults with cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Through its Cleft Lip and Palate Complimentary Care Program, GSO will provide orthodontic treatment at no cost to up to 100 eligible Georgia residents between the ages of 6 and 21. No physician referral is required.
An estimated 6,000 to 8,000 children are born annually in the United States with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, including approximately 200 in the Greater Atlanta area. Patients with these conditions often require multidisciplinary treatment over several years, with orthodontic care playing an important role in dental development, jaw growth, and preparation for surgical procedures.
Orthodontic treatment for patients with cleft lip and palate may involve multiple phases corresponding to facial growth and dental development. Depending on individual needs, treatment may address dental arch alignment, malocclusion, and preparation for procedures such as alveolar bone grafting. Coordination among orthodontists, surgeons, dentists, speech specialists, and other healthcare providers is important to ensure appropriate treatment sequencing.
“Our hope is that this program creates a lasting impact by making specialized care more accessible to the families who need it,” says Dr. Nandakumar Janakiraman, dean and chief academic officer at the Georgia School of Orthodontics. “Delivering that care requires an interdisciplinary approach—which really just means teamwork. As orthodontists, we are in constant communication with the surgical team. Together, we sequence our treatments to match the child’s natural growth and surgical milestones, ensuring they receive exactly the right care at the right time.”
The program is intended to address financial barriers that may prevent families from obtaining specialized orthodontic services. It also provides GSO orthodontic residents with opportunities to participate in the management of complex craniofacial cases under faculty supervision.
“GSO was founded on a commitment to both resident education and service to underserved communities,” says Christopher Lazzara, president, co-founder, and long-serving board trustee of the Georgia School of Orthodontics. “This program brings those two pillars together. We are proud to relieve the financial burden of long-term orthodontic care so families can focus entirely on their child’s health and development.”
According to GSO, the institution has provided approximately $290,000 in complimentary care through previous community initiatives. The new program extends these efforts to patients requiring specialized cleft-related orthodontic treatment.
Georgia residents seeking information about eligibility or requesting a consultation can visit BracesToday.com/cleft or call 770-758-7004.
