Regional drive to improve adolescent oral health

31 October 2013

Regional drive to improve adolescent oral health

Waitemata DHB is encouraging all adolescents to take advantage of the free Auckland Regional Dental Service before their 18th birthday.

The Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) provides free dental care to all those under 18 years of age living in the greater Auckland area.

Pre-schoolers and school children receive free regular oral health care from ARDS clinics. When they move into Year 9, students are referred to dentists contracted with ARDS to provide free dental care.

These dentists operate either at their private clinics or at the ARDS mobile dental clinics which visit secondary schools at regular intervals. Those who miss the mobile clinics are seen at dentist’s private clinics, and students are eligible for free dental care until they turn 18.

Corinna Wylie, the adolescent oral health regional coordinator, says only 73% of adolescents (Year 9 until 18 years) accessed the free dental care service last year and she would like to see that figure improve.

“There are around 95,000 adolescents living within the greater Auckland area – meaning that around 25,000 are potentially not receiving the dental care they are entitled to.

“Those who reach their eighteenth birthday will no longer be able to access free regular dental care so it’s important for them to take up this opportunity of free care while they can.

“We’re working hard to reach as many adolescents as we can and last year reached almost half of the adolescent population by sending four mobile dental clinics to 69 high schools and colleges throughout the region,” she says.

“But not all schools have signed up for the mobile clinic visits. Those schools that do sign up for the mobile service have far more adolescents attending their annual dental check up than schools that don’t. We encourage schools without a mobile service to contact us to take up our offer.

“We also want to reach those adolescents who’ve left school. They are all eligible for free care until the day they turn 18 irrespective of whether they’re at school or are working and receiving a wage.”

Ms Wylie says those under 18 not receiving an annual dental check up should check with their family dentist as to whether they are registered ARDS free dental care providers, or call 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583) for a referral to someone who is. Alternatively they can check the website (www.ards.co.nz) for a list of 205 contracted dental providers or to find out if a mobile service visits their school.

The free dental care service provided by ARDS does not include orthodontic treatments, large white fillings on back teeth or ACC cover. For further information, call 0800 TALK TEETH.

ENDS

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