Child dental care reassurance

Two mobile dental trucks will be heading to Gisborne’s urban and western rural schools in Term One and talks are being held with other school principals to provide a similar service.

Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti interim hospital lead Bhargav Srinivasan said dental care was being provided by the Oral Health team at the Wahaora Dental Clinic at Ilminster Intermediate School, and at schools throughout the year via a mobile dental truck.

Young people could receive a free dental check-up every 12 months, with high-risk children being seen more often.

Mr Srinivasan was responding to concerns expressed by a local woman, who said she had been told  the mobile units were not operating due to staff shortages.

She asked if Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti was doing anything to remedy the situation, and whether a shortage of dental/oral therapists was a nationwide issue

After her intial approach to Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti and The Gisborne Herald, she later told the Herald that she had just been into town and had seen one of the vans.

“They may be getting ready for the new term,” she said.

Mr Srinivasan said the oral health team had two dental therapists and one oral health therapist, supported by a team of dental assistants.

“We also have a dentist from Auckland, who joins our team up to six days out of every month to provide care to tamariki with more complex needs.

“He is our lead dentist for tamariki requiring dental treatment under general anaesthetic in theatre.”

There was a national shortage of dental/oral therapists.

“Te Whatu Ora has identified this workforce shortage as a priority for action and is investigating how it may be grown to enable oral health teams to provide care sooner.

“We encourage parents to contact the Wahaora Dental Clinic, at Ilminster Intermediate School, on 06 867 5096 or 027 242 5126 if they have any oral health concerns about their tamariki.”

The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4.30 pm.