Introduction: Due to its high incidence of 1 in every 650 newborns, Cleft lip and palate is a major problem in Chilean public health.

In this presentation we explain how the Chilean Public Health System has tackled this problem, providing the population with a guarantee of opportunity and quality in primary surgery, and several other interventions performed by a multidisciplinary team. Primary surgery centres distributed across the country have been chosen, according to the experience and previous results of the surgical team.

Material and methods: The stomatologic approach. We explain our sequence, our chronology and show some results in the patients which we are responsible for, following what we call the stomatologic approach, in contrast with the more cosmetic approach of Plastic Surgeons.

Discussion: Cleft lip and palate patient rehabilitation is still an unsolved problem, and every experience contributes to finding the best functional and aesthetic results for these children.

Conflict of interest: None declared.