Dental victims whacked with fee

Emergency? You could be dead out of luck Northlanders needing urgent dental care at weekends are having to pay up to $700 for a callout fee, be sent to Auckland or receive pain relief until they can see a dentist during the week.
People not registered with a local practice who needed dental care at the weekends  were "dead out of luck", Northland Dental Association president  Amanda Johnston  said.
"In other areas, they have a roster, in Northland, so far, we've got around it."
Unlike other regions, there is no roster for dentists to provide weekend cover in  the region.
Dentists will only see patients at the weekend if they are enrolled at their practice but even then patients face a $700 callout fee.
A recent attempt to put a roster in place to fill the gap fell through when only five out of 40 dentists agreed to join.
Whangarei dentist Dave Stallworthy, who has been practising in Whangarei for more than 30 years, said dentists were not proud of the situation and were trying to work out a solution. "You do feel an obligation as a dentist and the branch [Northland Dental Association] is concerned," he said.
 Until two years ago, Purely Dental (previously known as White Cross Dental) provided dental care at weekends but this ended due to a lack of dentists available to work. Purely Dental co-owner Vaughn West said it had been difficult to provide weekend cover but the practice had supported the bid to restart a roster system.
Dr Stallworthy said the irregularity of weekend work was also due to Northland's small population.
Dentists can provide after-hours care for their own regular patients but the cost involved with opening a practice outside  standard hours  were substantial due to safety issues for the dentist and patient.
 Dr Johnston said the additional security costs associated with opening after hours contributed to high fees.
"We have to pay chaperones and a nurse. When you get a callout and you do the work then tell them the fee - it's hard to look them in the eye.
"In a perfect world we'd get a dental house surgeon."
A dental house surgeon is available at the Whangarei Base Hospital in case of absolute emergency at weekends but it is more likely patients would have to travel to Auckland.
The Northland District Health Board general manager of service development, funding and Maori health services, Kim Tito, said the hospital provided adults  in lower socio-economic circumstances with subsidised pain relief for severe toothache or dental infection. However, no cover  was available for people without community service cards.
And the service  was not available during weekends.
 Dental injuries sustained from sports or other accidents are covered in part by ACC.