SHERIDAN, WYOMING – August 26, 2025 – Dentsply Sirona, the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), and Smile Train have expanded their joint cleft care education program, introducing multilingual access to their digital training platform and new workflow videos aimed at improving cleft treatment globally. The initiative, timed with Cleft Awareness Month, underscores a strategic push to equip dental professionals with advanced tools, protocols, and training to address one of the most common congenital conditions affecting children worldwide.
Expanding Global Reach Through Multilingual Training
The centerpiece of the initiative is the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Digital Dentistry in Cleft Care, which is now available in Spanish, French, and Portuguese, in addition to English. This expansion significantly broadens the course’s accessibility across underserved regions where language barriers often restrict access to advanced medical education.
The MOOC leverages a blend of lectures, quizzes, interactive forums, and case-based learning to teach practitioners how to implement standardized cleft care protocols. By embedding these structured digital pathways into training, the course provides a scalable, cost-effective solution to improve cleft treatment outcomes worldwide.
Workflow Videos for Real-World Practice
Complementing the online training, two new videos focus on specific stages of cleft treatment: pre-surgical care and mixed dentition. Both were filmed with patients at the Smile Train regional Cleft Leadership Center in the Philippines and offer practical, step-by-step guidance on digital workflows and equipment usage.
These resources provide actionable insights for practitioners transitioning to digital protocols, allowing them to observe real-life applications in clinical settings. The videos are accessible through the FDI website, paired with an interactive tool to help professionals navigate cleft care stages more effectively.
Industry Context: Digital Dentistry’s Expanding Role in Global Health
Digital dentistry has increasingly become a driver of equitable care delivery, offering standardized treatment pathways that can be scaled across regions with limited resources. This initiative aligns with broader healthcare trends emphasizing:
- Scalable e-learning platforms for global medical training.
- Standardized protocols to ensure consistent patient outcomes.
- Integration of digital workflows to improve speed and precision in dental interventions.
For hospitals and dental practices, adopting these protocols not only supports clinical excellence but also enhances institutional alignment with global sustainability and health equity goals.
Direct Voices from Industry Leaders
Marion Par-Weixlberger, VP Corporate Communications, PR and Brand at Dentsply Sirona, emphasized the patient impact: “Cleft lip and palate affect thousands of children globally each year, impacting not only their ability to eat, speak, and breathe, but also their confidence and quality of life. Access to timely, high-quality cleft care—especially dental care—is essential to helping these children thrive. Once you have witnessed the life-changing effect of high-quality cleft care delivered by a specially trained dental professional, you want everyone in need to have access to this. Together with Smile Train and FDI we are working hard to make that vision happen and to create countless healthy, happy smiles.”
Strategic Implications for Providers and Systems
The initiative illustrates how collaborative partnerships between industry, global federations, and NGOs can bridge critical training gaps in emerging healthcare markets. For providers, participation in such digital education programs supports:
- Workforce upskilling in complex dental protocols.
- Integration of sustainable practices in patient care.
- Improved patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes through earlier and more effective intervention.
By equipping local providers with digital training and resources, the program aims to scale impact beyond individual patients, strengthening community-level healthcare infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
The expansion of digital cleft care resources sets a precedent for how medical education can be democratized globally through technology. With ongoing support from Dentsply Sirona, FDI, and Smile Train, more dental professionals will have access to the tools they need to deliver life-changing treatments.
Learn more about the program and access training resources via the FDI World Dental Federation website.