Northlanders with aching teeth will now be able to rinse and spit in state-of-the-art surroundings. Northland Health's community dental service moved from Alexander St to a flash new dental suite at Whangarei Hospital this week. The service, which offers emergency dental care to community service card holders and WINZ clients throughout Northland,had operated from the Alexander St site for more than 10 years. The move brings Northland Health's community and hospital-based dental services into one comprehensive facility incorporating three new dental surgeries. The $340,000 initiative will also improve ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology facilities on the same floor. The community dental service team of five started work at the new hospital dental suite yesterday. The new suite was "state of the art", said dental services clinical director Neil Croucher. "The suite has also been designed to accommodate special needs patients - whatever their disability, we can now provide some level of care that we haven't had that in the past." Community dental team leader Barbara Anderson said the dental chair in the special needs suite had been designed to allow easy access for people with disabilities. There was also space for a surgical bed if needed, she said. A special headrest had been incorporated in the design of the bed so patients could receive treatment without having to be moved from their wheelchair.
