Dental charity is heading West
A free mobile dental clinic focused on servicing those in need is heading to West Auckland. Revive a Smile charity founder Dr Assil Russell said it was the first time the clinic would be in Auckland since starting in Hamilton in 2012.
‘‘We’ve always wanted to go to Auckland. We know that there’s a huge need in Auckland,’’ Russell said.
The service aimed to provide oral health care for low income people in high-risk communities.
‘‘We provide full treatments for people who can’t otherwise afford to go to the dentist,’’ Russell said.
A poll on social media site Neighbourly.co.nz showed that although 36 per cent of West Auckland respondents had been to the dentist in the past year, 30 per cent hadn’t been in more than five years. Four people said they had not visited the dentist because it was too expensive.
Russell said the cost of visiting the dentist would be more expensive in Auckland than Hamilton but a two surface filling usually started from about $200.
Although the cost of visiting the dentist could put people off, Russell said it was also low on many people’s priority list.
‘‘Especially people who are from lower decile communities, people who are on minimum wage, people who have big families, it’s not high on their priorities.’’
Russell said a Northland man who hadn’t been to a dentist in 50 years held the charity’s record. She said he had gum disease resulting in loose teeth so he would pull them out himself. Access to a dental clinic had been a main problem for him, Russell said. Embarrassment and fear were other reasons people chose not to visit the dentist, she said.
Although the charity couldn’t do ‘‘complicated treatments’’, the dentists did all the basics including fillings, pulling teeth, checkups, X-rays and cleaning. Russell said referrals were made to hospitals or private practices for any larger treatments.
They would be done for special rates.
The mobile dental clinic will be at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 6 Moire Rd, Massey, from the week of November 20.
Russell said she hoped the clinic would be there for at least three weeks, but it could stay longer depending on demand.