Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2008
Free Oral Health Programme Goes Deeper Than Root Canals
A pilot scheme '100 Healthy Smiles' has enabled one hundred and seventy low income adults living in the Waikato to
access free oral health care, resulting in significant personal benefits and financial returns of $130,000 to the
Government.
Clinical Operations Manager for Waikato Primary Health Erica Amon says many low-income adults who need to see a dentist
are hindered by the cost of treatment. She says this causes long term pain and associated health problems, low self
esteem and barriers to employment. But for 170 clients enrolled at the Work and Income Five Cross Roads Service Centre,
that has changed.
"The project exceeded our expectations. We had planned for 100 adults to access the service but over 150 people have
benefited since the project began in 2006," says Amon.
Over the past eighteen months Waikato Primary Health has joined with the Ministry of Social Development (Work and
Income) and local dentist, Dr Steve Pawley of Hillcrest Dental Centre, to provide a free dental service for low income
adults while piloting a different funding model.
An evaluation shows improvement to clients' self esteem as well as a drop in numbers on benefits. Because clients'
confidence has been boosted by a healthy smile, some of those clients have experienced increased job opportunities and
gone into paid employment and or further training.
In fact, within three months of dental treatment 22 clients came off the benefit.
"Clients have reported they are smiling more, due to feeling proud of their smiles and improved physical appearance, are
eating a healthier diet, maintaining a positive attitude at work, are no longer in pain and their sleeping has improved.
They also don't need to take and pay for pain medication," says Amon.
Usually, Work and Income provides a one-off emergency dental treatment payment of $300 for clients. However, the '100
Healthy Smiles' pilot programme consisted of a care package up to the value of $1,000 to allow for significant dentistry
work on each client if necessary. The funding was provided for four hours of work at a base fee of $230 per hour for
each person, rather than the typical rates paid per procedure.
According to Amon, due to number of clients finding employment, the calculated benefit savings amounted to $77,000.
Plus, changing from the standard emergency dental payment to the current funding model resulted in a further saving of
$53,000, bringing the overall savings to $130,000 – a significant saving and an outstanding outcome of the programme.
Deanne McManus-Emery, Social Development Manager for Ministry of Social Development, Waikato, says the collaborative
relationship built with Waikato Primary Health had been a significant achievement.
"We are very fortunate the leadership of Waikato Primary Health is looking at innovative ways in which to make a
difference to our community. We're excited about where this could lead us in the future. Together, we've made savings
for the Government, helped people into employment, and have seen some good social development outcomes for clients,"
says McManus-Emery.
The project has generated interest from within the Ministry of Social Development with health representatives visiting
the region shortly to discuss these achievements.
Dr Steve Pawley of Hillcrest Dental Centre says the patients he has treated would not otherwise have been able to access
dental treatment. In some cases, the severe negative impact on the patient's health and wellbeing was significantly
reduced and he was looking forward to the programme rolling out further afield in future. He felt increased satisfaction
at having the freedom within the different funding model to provide more comprehensive treatment than just fixing the
immediate emergency.
It is hoped that eventually more low income adults may be able to access the programme in the future
ENDS