PhD defence L.S. (Laura) Kind

Dental Care in the Cleft Team

On Tuesday 31 March 2026, L.S. Kind will defend the doctoral thesis titled: Dental Care in the Cleft Team

Promotor
Prof.dr. E.B. Wolvius
Co-promotor
Dr. L. Kragt
Co-promotor
Dr. N.C.W. van der Kaaij
Date
Tuesday 31 Mar 2026, 15:30 - 17:00
Type
PhD defence
Space
Professor Andries Querido room
Building
Education Center
Location
Erasmus MC
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Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Oral health is one of the main problems in Cleft Lip and/or Palate (CL/P) patients. Dental caries is a major contributor to compromised oral health. As dental caries is the consequence of persistent dental plaque and a frequent intake of free sugars, it can be prevented or arrested by changing oral health behaviour in the form of tooth brushing with fluoride containing toothpaste and reducing the intake of sugary foods and drinks. However, caries prevention in children with CL/P poses unique challenges, and their risk of developing dental caries is significantly elevated.

The overall aim of the thesis is to improve dentistry related care for CL/P patients within the multidisciplinary cleft team setting. The thesis had two major objectives. Firstly, to optimize the use of the orodental related outcome measures of the value based cleft set. Secondly, to identify strategies for improving the dental care during cleft team consultation hours.

More information

The public defence will start exactly at 15.30 hrs. The doors will be closed once the public defence starts, latecomers can access the hall via the fourth floor. Given the solemn nature of the meeting, we advise not to bring children under the age of 6 to the first part of the ceremony.

A livestream link has been provided to candidate.

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