My 9 yo grandson was born with a very bad case of cleft palate. Lips have been fixed but teeth need fixing badly. Child has hearing problems, too. Parents divorced and unable to finance uninsured dental expenses. I help some but this will cost so much more than I can handle. Need some ideas or recommendations on where to get inexpensive dental work for this beloved boy.
Lots of great help you have received!
I would like to add CCAkids.org
They are experienced with facial deformities and can help you find the best care and get you financial help as well!
Good luck with everything if you need more help contact me personally if you would like to do so!
celebrity jessica simpson had an organization for cleft plat children. might surf the internet for this information. also talk to your dentist to inquire if there's any free dental clinics in the area. at one time a batch of dentist would get together and hold a free saturday clinic. good luck.
Call Scottish Rite hospital in Dallas, it's free but you may have to get a referral from your/his doctor. Good luck
www.operationsmile.org provides cost-free surgeries and repairs for cleft palate. Since the repair is already finished, they may not take on your case, but they could certainly point you in the right direction!
If there is any dental insurance at all, the dental aspect should be covered. Fixing these teeth isn't cosmetic, it is a medical condition caused by a congenital anomaly. (Im a speech pathologist and work with insurance. They love the term "congenital anomaly"!) Having misaligned teeth, particularly of the sort we see with any cleft, let alone a full palatal cleft, causes medical conditions and can lead to feeding/eating difficulties, which can lead to poor nutrition. Any orthodontist who works with cleft kiddos would be able to easily related the need back to a medical concern to get insurance to cover the cost...or Medicaid, or a grant. It IS important to get these things fully resolved for cosmetic reasons and social/self esteem reasons. But in addition to that, there are so many additional health concerns that can go along with it.
You can try the surgeon who did the cleft palate repair. Its odd that he wouldn't follow your grandson until all reconstruction was complete. Their cleft palate team shoudl have consisted of a dentist who specializes in this sort of thing. If not, www.northtexasplasticsurgery.com
The Texas Medicaid program is very good about taking care of it's children. If health insurance cant be afforded, Medicaid will cover costs.
Baylor School of Dentistry in Dallas has affordable rates you just need to look them up and give them a call to get on the list.
Dear A.,
My daughter was born with a cleft lip and cleft gum. We have had one surgery to repair the lip and a second surgery will be needed for the gum which will come later. She is almost 6 years old.
She has had all her surgeries and dental help at Childrens Medical Center. The team of doctors, dentist and orthodontists are outstanding. They work with some really severe children and then others like mine who just had the lip and gum. They all work together to really help the patient.
I would get the mother to call them at ###-###-#### (that is the orthodontic dept.) and see if she could get her son in. She should be up front about her financial difficulties and maybe they can help her out somehow with the expenses of orthodontics.
Thank you for being such a loving Grandma. I'm sure God will bless all of you.
Good luck,
C.
There is another charity for children with cleft palates called The Smile Train (www.smiletrain.org) which provides resourcs for children and adults with cleft palates. Their partner list for Texas lists these three practitioners. Check out the website for more information although I'm sure that if you call any of these folks they can get them started as well.
Medical City Dallas Hospital
Medical City Children's Specialty Center
Heather Williams, BSN, RN, CPN
Medical City Dallas Hospital
Medical City Children's Specialty Center
7777 Forest Ln
Suite B-300
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone: ###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####
The Fogelson Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial Center for Children
Henry Byrd, MD
The Fogelson Plastic Surgery and Craniofacial Center for Children
Bank One Bldg., Exch Park
6300 Harry Hines Blvd #600
Dallas, TX 75235
Phone: ###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####
Fort Worth Cleft Palate Program
John Stella, DDS
Fort Worth Cleft Palate Program
1625 St. Louis Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone: ###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####
My mother makes a donation to operation smile or smile train in my name every year at Christmas time.
I don't know if they can help or not but you might try the Baylor Dental School. I know they offer more affordable services to the public as dental students are who work on the patients. I know of several people who use them and love the concecpt. Another resource for the family might be if the family (whoever has custody) would be eligible for your grandchild to have insurance from CHIPS...the state program for health insurance for low income families for the children. It includes dental.
Good luck...I have cleft palate as well but was fortunate to not to have the teeth problems.
How fortunate that he has such a concerned grandma!
Your grandson's school district should have a list of contacts that could valuable to you. You may also try to google any local sleft palate support groups in the area. I am not sure what district your grandson is in -- so I cannot offer anything more specific. You might also try calling Scottish Rite, Easter Seals, and Baylor (they have a speech clinic. One other contact might be the Callier Center for Communication Disorders in Dallas (located near Parkland Hospital). Callier has a lot of experience with children who have cleft palates - and may be able to inform you of some special financial programs.
Good luck -- Your grandson will truly benefit from your love and involvement.
-S.
Call Baylor Dental school and ask if they work with children. I know they do for adults.
Contact Parkland and Children's hospital also.
