NZ - Mobile 'tooth fairies' to the rescue

Mobile 'tooth fairies' to the rescue15.10.2007
By ALISON BROWN
Rotorua's dental services have been given a boost with the launch of a new mobile dental caravan.Run by Tipu Ora Charitable Trust, the caravan will target children, teens and adults in low socio-economic areas in a bid to control the district's problem with rotting teeth.It has been purpose-built with two dental chairs and once in operation next month, it will provide work for a dentist, dental therapist, dental assistants and one support person.Pre-school, school children and adolescents aged up to 18 will be targeted.Adults will also be able to access the service if they hold a community services card and are registered with Tipu Ora, Lakes District Health Board or a primary health organisation, such as Health Rotorua. They will be charged a one-off payment of $35.WINZ and ACC clients can receive free treatment if funding has been approved.The caravan, bought using more than $190,000 from the Ministry of Health, will visit kohanga reo, kuru kaupapa and some state primary schools in Rotorua as well as outlying areas, including Murupara and Kaingaroa.Local marae will also be visited for those marae that can support the caravan and its facilities.Raewyn Bourne, the general manager of Tipu Ora's health, education and social services, said the caravan would operate "drop-in style" clinics but school children would receive appointments.She said staff were excited by the development which is an extension of the dental services already provided by Tipu Ora.This year the organisation started offering a low cost community-based dental service for adults and children referred from school dental therapists at the Rotorua Hospital dental suite.It started as a drop-in service but has been forced to book appointments because of the high demand for treatment. Patients must be experiencing pain and have a community services card."The service has been inundated," Mrs Bourne said. "That's why the caravan will be such an asset to the community.For several years the Lakes district and Northland have ranked as among the worst areas for tooth decay in the country. Neither areas fluoridate their water.Last month John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said he was disgusted to learn at a meeting between primary and secondary school principals and dental health experts how bad Rotorua's dental problem was.Mr Walsh said not fluoridating was a form of child abuse. Mrs Bourne said that while the caravan's services would benefit the community, fluoridation was also needed.She supports an attempt by Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick to gauge public opinion on fluoridation by holding a petition.Mrs Chadwick said a petition was needed after the Rotorua District Council voted not to hold a referendum on the issue in tandem with this year's local body elections.