Helping children smile

Visiting the dentist these days is pretty much a pain-free process for most but there are people who still get anxious about the procedure.

Horsham’s newest dental therapist has a knack for putting her patients at ease.

Leanne Barnes has worked as a dental therapist with extended scope in Melbourne and other Victorian cities.

After working for Ballarat Health Services for the past six years, Ms Barnes has moved to the Wimmera with her partner Lindsay, who is a paramedic.

She is the newest member of Wimmera Health Care Group’s Dental Services team.

Ms Barnes said she particularly liked helping children and people with special needs to feel comfortable in the chair.

“I like treating the more vulnerable people of our community and I gain a lot of enjoyment from making a difference to their lives,” she said.

“I have a lot of experience treating children and I often treat anxious and special needs children.

“If I can get them in the chair, then we can establish whether they need a general anaesthetic and that is a huge step.

“I get great satisfaction out of special moments like helping to get an autistic child to be able to clean their teeth when they might have an aversion to anything oral.”

Within her scope of practice, Ms Barnes can treat all age groups for fillings, check-ups, radiography and cleans, as well as extractions for infants.

People can make an appointment by phoning 5381 9248. This service is free to all children aged 13 or younger.