Georgia School of Orthodontics Expands Access to Cleft Lip and Palate Care

Through its complimentary care program, GSO will provide orthodontic treatment at no cost to up to 100 eligible Georgia residents between the ages of 6 and 21.

By
News Staff
October 8, 2026

Compendium

Overview

The Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO) announced a complimentary orthodontic care program for up to 100 eligible Georgia residents aged 6 to 21 with cleft lip and/or palate. The initiative is intended to reduce financial barriers to specialized treatment and includes resident participation under faculty supervision. GSO describes coordinated care with surgical teams as central to sequencing orthodontic treatment around growth and surgical milestones.

Background

Cleft lip and palate care may involve multidisciplinary treatment over several years, with orthodontics addressing dental development, jaw growth, malocclusion, and preparation for procedures such as alveolar bone grafting. The source estimates that 6,000 to 8,000 children are born annually in the United States with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, including approximately 200 in the Greater Atlanta area. The related article by Ross E. Long, Jr. describes comprehensive multidisciplinary management as a standard of care recommended by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. The 2024 ACPA Parameters of Care provide updated guidance on interdisciplinary evaluation, orthodontic care across the care timeline, and coordination.

Data Highlights

Program or context	Reported detail
Eligible participants	Up to 100 Georgia residents aged 6–21 with cleft lip and/or palate
Cost and referral	Orthodontic treatment at no cost; no physician referral required
Estimated U.S. births	6,000–8,000 children annually with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both
Greater Atlanta estimate	Approximately 200 affected births annually
Prior GSO complimentary care	Approximately $290,000 provided through previous community initiatives

Key Findings

GSO’s Cleft Lip and Palate Complimentary Care Program will provide orthodontic treatment at no cost to up to 100 eligible Georgia residents aged 6 to 21.
The program does not require a physician referral; GSO directs interested Georgia residents to BracesToday.com/cleft or 770-758-7004 for eligibility information or consultation requests.
GSO states that treatment sequencing is coordinated with surgical teams to align care with a child’s growth and surgical milestones.
Depending on individual needs, cleft-related orthodontic treatment may address dental arch alignment, malocclusion, and preparation for procedures such as alveolar bone grafting.
The initiative is intended to address financial barriers and provides GSO orthodontic residents opportunities to participate in complex craniofacial case management under faculty supervision.
The related Long article describes comprehensive multidisciplinary management as a standard of care recommended by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association; the 2024 ACPA Parameters of Care address interdisciplinary evaluation and orthodontic care across the care timeline.

Clinical Implications

The program offers eligible Georgia residents a route to complimentary cleft-related orthodontic treatment without a physician referral, according to GSO. The source describes coordination among orthodontists, surgeons, dentists, speech specialists, and other providers as important for sequencing care according to individual needs, growth, and surgical milestones.

Conclusion

GSO’s initiative extends its complimentary-care efforts to patients requiring specialized cleft-related orthodontic treatment while incorporating resident education under faculty supervision. Its stated model emphasizes access and coordination with surgical teams.