As lead author, Paula presented at the conference in September 2022 with the 'Parental perceptions of cleft dental concerns: A National Cohort Study' poster. This was a 9-year study in the UK involving 16 NHS cleft services including the Cleft Collective.

The study investigated whether parents and/or guardians of children with cleft lip and/or palate have dental concerns about their child’s teeth; their specific concerns and how these change over time; and the relationship between parental dental concern, parental anxiety, and healthcare satisfaction.

Paula said: “This was a great project to be involved in, which displays the valuable work that the Cleft Collective group undertakes. I am grateful to have been part of such a brilliant team including Amy Davies, Alex Davies, Julia Cadogan, Amy Hollis, Peter Fowler, Nikki Atack and Scott Deacon.”