Craniofacial and Special Needs Orthodontics Clinic
![Smiling blonde boy craniofacial anomality in front of building.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_1100x733_1x/public/2024-05/Photo-hero-cranio-Plastic-2624x1720.jpg?itok=_GrH3Nas)
The Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Oral Surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of the few centers in the country to offer a craniofacial orthodontics clinic. This subspecialty focuses on patients with differences within the face and jaw, and also patients with special needs.
Our team has extensive experience treating children with conditions such as cleft lip and palate, hemifacial microsomia (one side of the face is underdeveloped), craniosynostosis (bones in a baby’s skull fuse too early) and more. Treatment can begin as early as the first week of life and continue to adulthood.
We know that children with facial differences encounter many challenges. We are here for your entire family every step of the way.
How we serve you
We will give your child the very best care. To do this, we have specialized programs that help children during different stages of their treatment journey. We offer some treatments and services that other programs might not have.
Conditions we treat
We provide highly specialized orthodontic services for children with a variety of conditions.
![Blonde girl in floral dress ouside with craniofacial anomality.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-05/Photo-hero4-Plastic-2624x1720.jpg?itok=V3LDuSNO)
Why choose CHOP for craniofacial and special needs orthodontics
We offer some services that other programs might not have, such as nasoalveolar molding to reduce the size of a cleft prior to surgery and a surgical technique that gradually lengthens jaw or facial bones.
![Child and mother smiling talking with medical professional](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-04/Photo-Default-Team-Doctor-Talking-Child-Mother-2624x1720-v01_0.jpg?itok=nhpnTpay)
Meet your team
Everyone on your child’s team has the same goal: to see your child thrive. Each team member has extensive experience in treating children with differences of the face and jaw and those with special needs.
![Architectural detail of outside of building](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-03/Photo-Default-Locations-Building-Exterior-2624x1720-v01.jpg?h=ed76bfaa&itok=CvXz3nSY)
Our locations
Get information about craniofacial orthodontics care at the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care on our Philadelphia campus.
Your donation changes lives
A gift of any size can help us make life-changing breakthroughs and advance our work for children everywhere.
![Young teen looking off to his left smiling](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_150_3x2_160x107_1x/public/2024-05/Photo-NEP-TeenBoy-2624X1720-v01_.jpg?itok=17_56kch)