Laura van der Knaap-Kind earns doctorate on dental care in cleft teams
Paediatric dentists and cleft team members can adopt standardised outcome measures to improve patient care and identify evidence-based preventive strategies.
Laura van der Knaap-Kind defended her dissertation, Dental care in the cleft team, at Erasmus University Rotterdam on 31 March 2026. Van der Knaap-Kind works as a paediatric dentist at CBT Rijnmond and within the cleft team at Erasmus MC.
Oral health challenges in cleft lip and palate
Oral health is one of the major problems affecting patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), largely due to dental abnormalities associated with the condition. Van der Knaap-Kind's research identifies that caries prevention in children with cleft palate presents specific challenges, significantly increasing the risk of tooth decay. Parents often fear causing pain when brushing their child's teeth, which complicates preventive care.
Improving multidisciplinary team outcomes
The dissertation focuses on optimising the use of oro-dental outcome measures from the cleft care set of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM). Van der Knaap-Kind's work identifies strategies to improve dental care delivered by multidisciplinary cleft teams, aiming to standardise and enhance treatment protocols across teams treating cleft patients.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of van der Knaap-Kind's research?
The dissertation examines dental care delivery within multidisciplinary cleft teams, optimising oro-dental outcome measures from the ICHOM cleft care set and identifying strategies to improve treatment protocols.
Why is caries prevention more difficult in children with cleft palate?
Children with cleft lip and palate have increased caries risk due to dental abnormalities, and parents often fear causing pain during tooth-brushing, making preventive care compliance challenging.
What institution conducted this research?
The research was conducted at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Erasmus MC, where van der Knaap-Kind works as a paediatric dentist within the cleft team.
What is the ICHOM cleft care set?
The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) cleft care set is a standardised framework for measuring oro-dental outcomes in patients with cleft conditions, helping teams benchmark and improve care quality.
