New Zealand is turning to mobile dentistry in an effort to improve oral health care across the country.
Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne officially opened the first of 94 mobile dental surgeries, starting in the Canterbury region, that are being introduced as part of a nationwide upgrade of oral health services for New Zealand communities, according to a press release.
The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) will spend $13.3 million over the next three years upgrading its Community Dental Service for children at primary and intermediate schools. The upgrade will see most of the region's 120 school dental clinics replaced by 12 multichair community clinics supported by 18 camper-van-style mobile clinics.
Sixteen of Canterbury's 18 mobile clinics will visit schools in the CDHB area from Ashburton to Rangiora. The other two mobile clinics will provide a full range of dental treatment for children in rural areas.
Under the new system, the mobile clinics will see children for checkups. If they need further dental work, such as fillings, children will attend one of the 12 community clinics, which will be opened in stages over the next three years.
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