 |
Site Map | FAQ | Glossary | Health Links | Contact |
COMMUNICATIONS
Media Release - 19/10/06
The Canterbury District Health Board has today released a proposed model for upgrading Canterbury’s Community Oral Health Services for children and adolescents.
The suggested changes are part of a government led initiative to upgrade community based oral health facilities and see a reduction in the incidence of dental disease among young people and increased access to oral health care for older adults.
The proposed model presented today to the Board’s Community and Public Health Advisory Committee focuses on improving the oral health of children and adolescents aged 0-18. “This model would have the flexibility to provide extended oral health services to other groups in the community including older adults,” project manager Sue Dasler said.
Upgrading the current school dental service is at the heart of the CDHB’s suggested improvements to dental care for children aged 5-12 years. “Recent reviews of the School Dental Service have shown that services are often hampered by ageing equipment, buildings and models of service delivery that are no longer meeting community needs,” Ms Dasler said. “Dental therapists working in the clinics are among those most passionate about the need for change.”
The CDHB’s service model suggests reducing the number of dental clinic sites in Canterbury so that dental care can be delivered from mobile services and larger community clinics more suitable for modern day dentistry and over extended hours. It is suggested that these clinics be based in communities of greatest need and be supported by mobile clinics and portable equipment that would allow therapists to examine children’s teeth on school sites and refer them to a community clinic if necessary.
“By using this model, we would be able to provide a more comprehensive range of dental care including dental therapists, dentists and dental assistants,” Ms Dasler said. “The model provides opportunities for trained oral health workers to deliver oral health education and fluoride programmes.”
Young people, from school year 9, would continue to have their oral health care provided free-of-charge by dentists in the community until their eighteenth birthday.
For children aged 0-2 years, the model suggests an improved preventive service to be provided by Primary Care and Well Child providers at prescribed contact times. Improved access to dental care through primary care referrals is proposed for improving the oral health care of three and four year olds.
“Re-orientation of the current services for young people from a treatment to prevention focus is key to the success of the model,” Ms Dasler said. “At the end of the day we want to see fewer dental caries and less dental disease among our young people, particularly those with the poorest oral health including Maori and Pacific Island children and those from socially disadvantaged families.”
She said consultation on what the new service would look like is continuing with all key stakeholders and a community advisory group has been set up to help direct the project. “The model that has been presented today is just the first step on our journey.” The final version will be presented to the Board by next February.
“From here we need to refine the model and look at staffing and how the facilities would be provided before presenting it to the Ministry of Health for funding in February next year.”
Individual schools and communities will be consulted on changes to oral health services in their areas during consultation on Territorial Local Authority community and area plans.
ENDS
 |
|
|
| CDHB Communications |
