The Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontists under the guidance of Dr Simon Freezer and Dr Mark Leedham established a volunteer orthodontic service treating cleft lip and palate patients with teams starting to visit in 2016.
Since then 17 teams of orthodontists involving a combination of experienced cleft clinicians, private practice orthodontists and post graduate orthodontic students from the University of Adelaide have travelled over on average, every 2 months.
Orthodontic Treatment
At present, the common treatment goal is simple dental alignment of the maxillary arch. TP Orthodontics generously support the programme by the donation of brackets and archwires, AB Orthodontics have donated instruments and 3M Unitek have supplied a new Luminex curing light. We have also have ongoing support from American Orthodontics and Dental Axess. The Royal Australian Navy have kindly transported donated equipment including a dental chair and Lisa sterilser.
There is no onsite lab currently but there is a very new addition of a Trios Intraoral scanner which opens up the possibility of increasing the scope of treatment and appliances.
Tops Ortho provided the software and the laptop at a discounted fee and all patient records including current and future treatment steps are recorded. A Canon camera and full range of retractors are present.
