World Oral Health Day
World Oral Health Day is the perfect opportunity for schools and ECE services to raise student awareness and take part in activities to promote oral health. Read More »
RESOURCE CENTRE : NEWS AND EVENTS : LATEST NEWS
Dr Rabbit helps kids with oral health
A new health professional at Whangarei Hospital, Dr Rabbit, will ensure all children admitted to the paediatric ward are visited by a dental therapist.
In a bid to reach at-risk families, a new three month project will also include a dentist making ward rounds in the hospital's maternity unit. The aim is to fill some of the dental health gaps through which many Northland families fall. Some children admitted to the paediatric service have never owned a toothbrush.
During the Oranga Kata (Healthy Smile) Project trial period, it aims to assess the oral health of 90 per cent of all children admitted to Whangarei Hospital and 90 per cent of all mothers in the antenatal service. Along with in-house assessment, Northland District Health Board hopes for effective follow-up in the community and the completion of any dental treatment within 12 months. ``These programmes are fantastic, kids learn that tooth brushing is important for their own oral health and they can have fun doing it,'' the board's oral health adviser Dr Neil Croucher said. ``Brushing teeth twice a day with adult strength fluoride toothpaste can reduce dental decay levels by up to 15 per cent _ that's a lot of cavities prevented.''
Every child and young person admitted to the board's child health services, and their siblings, will be given an oral health pack which consists of a toothbrush, toothpaste and oral health promotion resources. The New Zealand Dental Association and Colgate have provided 1000 toothbrushes and toothpastes toward the project.
The "whole of service'' approach involves the board working with iwi health providers in the community. Among them are Kaitaia iwi health group Te Hauora O Te Hiku O Te Ika, which will collate information to help identify key themes and develop an oral health provision plan.
By Lindy Laird
Courtesy of Northern Advocate
25 May 2009