COMMUNIQUE ARISING FROM THE 13TH SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS
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COMMUNIQUE ARISING FROM THE 13TH
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF
ORTHODONTISTS (NAO) HELD AT MAXBE CONTINENTAL HOTEL ENUGU, NIGERIA ON SEPTEMBER
23RD-26TH 2019.
1. At the 13th
Scientific Conference And Annual General Meeting Of The Nigerian Association Of
Orthodontics (NAO), Cleft orthodontics was discussed extensively by the
Association and the guest lecturer, Prof(Dr) Puneet Batra (India).
2. The Association had a session with some
traditional rulers and Smile Train as a means of creating public
enlightenment about availability of care for children born with cleft lip and
palate. A drama was staged to depict the psychosocial effect of Cleft Lip and
Palate. The traditional rulers in their response promised to partner with Smile
Train and the Association in reaching out to families with cases of Cleft Lip
and palate in their respective communities.
3. It was also discussed that children who
had their clefts surgically repaired soon develop malocclusion as the teeth
begin to erupt. There is therefore a need to follow up with the orthodontists
to correct malocclusion that may arise from clefts or surgical treatment of the
clefts, therefore giving these children a lasting confident smile.
4. Therefore there is a need for integration
of orthodontists as functional members of the cleft management team in the
Nigerian Hospitals and Centres where cleft patients are being managed.
5. The association also advocated for
public education and community awareness programmes targeting mothers
especially in the rural and underserved communities.
6. Awareness should be aimed at educating
the general public especially mothers about risk factors contributing to
development of cleft lip and palate, as well as treatment options available to
them.
7. These underserved communities also need
to be aware of provision of free cleft-related treatment sponsored by some
non-governmental organizations (NGO).
8.
Finally, it was concluded that the Association will continue to strive for
higher standards in orthodontic treatment delivery in Nigeria.