End the Cleft Dental Crisis

Guarantee NHS Dentistry for People Born with a Cleft

Cleft is for life — and so are the dental challenges that come with it. 

Yet people born with cleft are disproportionately unable to access vital dental treatment, with some even being denied care outright. This must change. 

We are calling for guaranteed lifelong NHS dental care for the one in 700 people born with a cleft in the UK.  

The problem: 

  • People with cleft are twice as likely to face barriers accessing dental care. 
  • 42% report inadequate care due to a lack of training and understanding. 
  • 38% can’t afford treatment for cleft-related dental issues. 
  • 7% have been denied treatment outright because of their cleft. 

What we’re calling for: 

  • Access – guaranteed lifelong NHS dental care for people with cleft. 
  • Training – standardised cleft training for all dentists. 
  • Care – better integration between dentistry and cleft treatment pathways. 
  • Transparency – clear reporting on dental access for people with cleft. 

Download Policy Recommendations

Take action 

Change starts with all of us. Here’s how you can help:

  1. Sign our petition in just two minutes. Every signature builds pressure for government to acknowledge this problem.
  2. Share the Campaign. The more noise we make, the harder it is for decision-makers to ignore us. Share now on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
  3. Ask your MP, MSP, MS or MLA to support the campaign. We’ve made it super easy with templates and guidance.

Are you a politician, clinician, or NHS staff member, or do you represent an organisation? Add your name to our open letter on dental access for people affected by cleft.

Take action

  •

    Sign our petition

    It takes two minutes. Every signature builds pressure for government to acknowledge this problem. 

  •

    Contact your local MP/MSP

    Ask your MP/MSP to support the campaign and adopt our policy position. We’ve made it super easy with templates and guidance. 

Community Stories

  •

    Anne's story

    Anne had decades of poor NHS dental treatment, which ignored care of her cleft and gums, and resulted in painful gum disease.

  •

    Sarah's story

    “They said it’s really important with my cleft to have a regular dentist, but finding one near where I live has been so difficult.”

  • Claudia's story

    After a lifetime of poor dental provision from the NHS, Claudia said she's been forced to seek private treatment to save her teeth.

  • Fiona's story

    “When they look in my mouth, I usually get the wide-eyed look of horror and sharp intake of breath. And then they say, ‘you're a complicated case’.”

Sign our petition calling for the government to end the cleft dental crisis.

Sign the Petition