King Island residents have more reasons to smile thanks to a new dental service, with the first round of appointments completed last week.
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The service is the result of a partnership between Oral Health Services Tasmania and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Dentist Lorika Strickland and dental assistant Maureen Hamilton attended to their first patient on Monday morning, before travelling back to Launceston on Thursday, with 22 patients receiving treatment.
RFDS Tasmania chief executive John Kirwan said the service was filling a gap left by the retirement of one of the island's dentists.
"Poor oral health is one of the most common health problems affecting remote and rural Tasmanians and it's important to us that everyone, even if they're living on an island, is provided with the best possible dental care," he said.
In other news:
The RFDS dental clinic operates from the King Island Hospital and Health Centre and is expected to triple the number of consultations previously available.
Funded by the Commonwealth Government the new service offers free dental treatments to all King Island adults, while OHST continues its regular visits to give dental care to children under 18.
The next dental clinic, to be held in September, is already fully booked but residents can make a dental appointment with RFDS Tasmania or find out more information by calling (03) 6779 1480 or email nicole.henty@rfdstas.org.au.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
