“Dental care is free if you’re under 18 in the Hutt Valley and that’s something to smile about,” says Bee
Healthy Regional Dental ServiceClinical Director Kathy Fuge.
Every year more than 300 children have dental surgery in Hutt Hospital under general anaesthetic to pull out severely decayed teeth, the Bee Healthy service reports. Maori and Pacific children are three to four times more likely than Pakeha children to need this treatment.
Over the next 12 weeks, Bee Healthy, with help from the Hutt Valley Governance Group, is joining forces with over 30
community organisations including councils, government agencies and non-government groups to get the message out to the community.
Staff in the organisations working with local families, are being encouraged to share information about the free dental service, give out information to parents and wear badges.
“Good oral health is important so that children can eat, speak, smile and learn, confidently and free of pain,” says Ms Fuge. “More children in the Hutt Valley need to be enrolled and seen by our free dental service so that we can improve their oral health.”
Bee Healthy hopes to see the number of enrolments increase over the next 12 weeks. For Hutt Valley’s pre-school children in particular, it hopes to reach the Ministry of Health target of 85% of all pre-schoolers enrolled in the service.
Oral health care from pre-school throughteenage years is publically funded by Hutt Valley District Health Board, although orthodontic treatment is excluded. To enrol their child or teen in the service and make an appointment to get their teeth checked, parents can ring 0800 825 583.
For further information about Bee Healthy contact Kate.Calvert@huttvalleydhb.org.nz.
