Hawke's Bay is set to reap the benefits of the biggest investment in oral health care in 50 years.
The new Hastings Central Community Dental Clinic was officially opened at Hastings Central School this week by Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne.
The opening marked the revolutionary way dental care services wouldgive better access to dental clinics in the region.
The community dental clinic was one of eight new fixed clinics that would service the region by June 2012. Another was already operating from Mahora School, while three more at Tamatea Intermediate, Havelock North Intermediate and Onekawa Primary School were scheduled for completion in February next year. Waipukurau Primary School, Wairoa College and Totara Health, in Flaxmere, were also in line for a new fixed dental clinic.
Three to four staff would work at the Hastings Central Community Dental Clinic, which had separate surgeries, waiting room, sterilising area and new equipment.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board oral health service manager Claire Caddie said oral health traditionally was not good, especially in low socio-economic areas. And the region's current arrangement of dental care services was difficult to access.
Mrs Caddie said there were 51 small clinics in Hawke's Bay that only opened for a couple of months at a time. The new clinics, however, would be open throughout most of the year and the upsized fleet of mobile dental units would ensure even greater accessibility.
HBDHB chief operating officer Warrick Frater said: "The reason why this is so important is because oral health care is a determinant of your overall health status. That's why it's important to have easy access and early enrolment of pre-schoolers ... To encourage good dental hygiene and habits at an early age will set them up for the future," he said.
The new clinics and additional mobile units purchased earlier this year were part of a nationwide project to update oral health services.
Hawke's Bay received $4.7 million in government funding to kick-start the project and would receive $1.3 million a year for operating funds.
Mr Dunne said the old clinics were starting to show their age and the new one at Hastings Central School "really marks the beginning of a new era of dental health care for Hawke's Bay people".
