Media release from Waikato District Health Board

Construction of new dental clinics at six Waikato schools and the roll out of nine new mobile dental vans this year represents a $9.78 million investment by Waikato DHB in children's teeth.

While the original plans were for there to be nine new on-site school clinics throughout the Waikato, school dental service manager Diane Pevreal said it was simply unaffordable.

Currently, there are 78 school-owned dental clinics staffed by Waikato DHB's provider arm Health Waikato but 77 of them need replacing or refurbishment to comply with new legislation.

"We went back to the drawing board and revised the plan. We will now build six new clinics and refurbish space within Tokoroa Hospital to create a seventh clinic," Mrs Pevreal said

The six clinics will be at the following schools:

Cambridge Middle School
Morrinsville Primary School
Peachgrove Intermediate
Firth Primary School, Matamata
Frankton Primary School
Fairfield Intermediate

The DHB will retain a lease agreement with Crawshaw School (Hamilton) to continue using its existing dental clinic.

The mobile fleet will increase from six to 15 vehicles servicing 129 mobile sites throughout the region.

Mrs Pevreal said the revised plan fits within budget while ensuring dental services remain accessible for children throughout the Waikato region.

"This is a major investment in children's oral health so we need to spend the money wisely.

"Although we have reduced the number of clinics, this revised plan still ultimately ensures that children most at risk of having poor oral health will have access to the care they need," she said.

Schools that do not have a new clinic will either receive a mobile clinic service or students will need to travel to the nearest clinic.

Mrs Pevreal said lower-decile schools got priority for on-site clinics but the DHB was also mindful of school size, travel distances and the need for flexibility.

"Research shows that parents or caregivers of children at low decile schools have more difficulty finding dental services, resulting in poor oral health.  

"Populations change so the mobile clinics will provide us with the flexibility we need to ensure we are providing appropriate services to different communities.

"We'll also have the ability to re-locate the new fixed clinics," she said.

New mobiles will roll out from October and the new fixed clinics, although still in planning stages, should be ready to open before the end of 2010.

Mrs Pevreal said parents would receive information with their child's appointment card detailing any immediate changes

More information for parents is available at www.waikatodhb.govt.nz, search "school dental".