Make dental check part of school holiday plan

DROP-IN: The Community Oral Health Service is hoping Rotorua families check in to local drop-in dental check ups in the school holidays. Photo/Supplied.

It's hoped Rotorua families will take advantage of a free dental check up these school holidays.

The Community Oral Health Service has been running a drop-in dental clinic at Western Heights Health Centre and at two school clinics - Rotorua Intermediate and Selwyn School - during each school holidays this year and will do again these holidays.

The drop in dental clinic, with its focus on enrolments and checks for toddlers and children, was very popular in previous holiday periods.

Lakes District Health Board communications officer Sue Wilkie said "valuable" oral health information would be provided by dental experts.

"It's really nice to have the chance for staff to interact with the parent or caregiver of a child, and pass on some oral health information," she said.

"Fot example how to brush the child's teeth, how often, suitable snacks and drinks to help grow healthy teeth."

The drop-in mobile dental clinic is free and available for all children from pre-schoolers to 17-year-olds. It will have two dental therapists based in the mobile behind the Western Heights Health Centre for the two weeks of the school holidays (Monday October 26 to Friday October 7 from 8am to 4pm).

"In the previous school holidays we had lots of anecdotal feedback that it was good to be able to get their child or children enrolled with the Community Oral Health Service, said Mrs Wilkie.

A free dental drop-in clinic for kids will be running again these school holidays. Photo/File

Community Oral Health Services manager Juan Restrepo said that the school holidays provided a great opportunity for parents taking a break with their children to take them along for a check up.

If you think your child is due for their annual dental appointment, you can contact the service on 0800 825 583 to make an appointment.

Mr Restrepo said the service encouraged parents to stay with their child during the appointment which helped make the school holiday clinics so convenient for many families.

He said some families were keen to have the dental checks for all their children at the same time to avoid having to make many visits.

Lakes District Health Board had a drive in 2016 to ensure all pre-schoolers were enrolled with the Community Oral Health Service. The push was for pre-schoolers to have their first visit to the dental therapist by the time they turn one.

Keeping to these milestones helped prevent dental disease for children while providing a chance to show parents and caregivers how to look after their pre-schoolers and children's teeth.

Dental clinics at Selwyn Primary School and Rotorua Intermediate School are also open over the school holidays.

It's best to ring for appointment if possible.

What: Free drop-in dental clinic
When: Monday September 26 to Friday October 7.
Where: Western Heights Health Centre, Brookland Rd
What time: Weekdays 8.00am to 4.00pm
Other option: Phone Selwyn Primary School (07-348 2650) or Rotorua Intermediate School (07-347 1495) - full two weeks of the school holidays