Media release from Canterbury District Health Board

A new community dental clinic opened in Hornby's Hei Hei Road this week.

The clinic is part of a major change to the way oral health care services are being delivered by Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) to primary and intermediate school children across the country.

Children from Hornby and surrounding schools will visit a mobile clinic based at school for their initial dental check ups.

"If they need further dental work, such as fillings, children will then go to the Hornby Community Dental Clinic," said the Community Dental Service's Service Manager Megan Gibbs.

Canterbury's first community dental clinic was opened in May last year at Ashburton Hospital and was followed by clinics opening in Kaiapoi and Rangiora earlier this year.

"The new Hornby clinic will allow us to focus more on preventative dental care within that community - and improve the oral health of our young people," said Megan Gibbs.

CDHB is spending over $13 million upgrading its Community Dental Service for school children with most of the region's 120 school dental clinics being replaced by community clinics and supported by 18 campervan-style mobile clinics.

The changes are part of the Government's overall commitment to improving oral health care services for children and adolescents.

All children under 18 in the CDHB area are eligible for free dental care. Once children reach high school, they are able to register with a private dentist who will provide free services until they are 18.

"High school children will continue to be offered a comprehensive service by private dentists," Megan Gibbs said.

The largest community dental clinic will open at Hillmorton Hospital later this year and planning is well underway for the other clinics in Burnside, Woolston, Lincoln, Northcote, Aranui and Kaikoura. All the clinics are expected to be open by the end of 2011.