A team of ten oral health professionals will shortly be arriving in Alice Springs to work alongside local oral health teams as part of the Australian Government emergency response.
The team of Dental surgeons, anaesthetists and assistants will be arriving in Alice Springs to commence surgical procedures on Monday, 12th May.
A group of dentists and dental therapists has been working in Alice Springs and surrounding areas for the last two weeks to manage initial check ups and referrals.
Oral health assessments have been performed on nearly 200 children and around 40 have been identified as needing follow up surgical treatment at Alice Springs Hospital from Monday, 12th May.
The Department of Health and Community Services Program Director, Oral Health Andrew McAuliffe has confirmed a number of children have received initial oral health checks and treatments.
"This work has been achieved in partnership with schools, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and other Non-government organisations.
"This oral health blitz programme will boost capacity to provide concentrated surgical treatment for a number of children while the Department of Health and Community Services will maintain its ongoing and regular services providing oral health assessments and treatments to school children, adults and remote communities", said Mr McAuliffe.
The Department of Health and Community Services, Dental Services will continue to make assessments of children across Central Australia.
Media contact: Lorraine Hook 0401 116 203
Release date: 11 May 2008
