Forty Aboriginal children from across the Barkly region will receive specialist care from a dental surgical team visiting Tennant Creek Hospital from 30 March to 3 April.
The dental outreach complements Central Australian Oral Health Services that provide regular dental checks and referrals for children and adults.
The team, from Westmead Hospital in Sydney, includes three dentists, an anaesthetist and registrar, nurses, and dental assistants. The week-long surgery is the fourth time that this visiting specialist dental team has provided services in the Northern Territory over the last 12 months.
Team leader Dr Angus Cameron, Clinical Associate Professor and Head of Discipline for Paediatric Dentistry at Westmead Hospital, was part of the project group that visited Tennant Creek Hospital last year to plan the surgery.
"Our team loves working in the Territory and this is an incredible opportunity to give children from remote communities access to specialist dental care," Dr Cameron said.
NT oral health professionals in the Top End will also benefit, as Dr Cameron will visit four times a year for clinical consultation and staff training.
The week of dental surgery is strongly supported by Tennant Creek-based Aboriginal Health Service Anyinginyi Congress. Anyinginyi are working with communities to promote the dental visit and are transporting children and carers from outlying communities. Children and their carers will be provided with accommodation in Tennant Creek.
The surgery is part of the Helping Hands Project funded by the Australian Government Intervention which complements Central Australian oral health services. It includes follow-up for children who have had health checks or are eligible for them. Helping Hands Child Oral Health Project Manager, Julie Hornibrook, welcomed the increase in dental outreach services.
"All the children booked for dental surgery this week have had a dental assessment in their community or at the school or hospital clinic in town by visiting outreach teams prior to surgical treatment. This surgery means their dental care will be completed in one session and they will be free of pain and further discomfort," Ms Hornibrook said.
"Whilst surgery can be effective in treating acute dental problems, prevention is the best strategy. Oral hygiene and a good diet are vital to the healthy development of children's teeth, which appear at between six and nine months."
For further information go to nt.gov.au/health or phone 08 8985 8067.
Media contacts: Julie Hornibrook, 0402 891 169; Darrel Trueman, 0401 116 203.
Release date: Friday 27 March 2009
