Dental health

I am a Mum committed to my child’s health. And one with the option (in terms of both time off work and money to pay for it) of using a private dental provider (‘‘Babies aid in fight to safeguard kids’ teeth’’, News, February 4).

Last week I realised my son had not been to the dentist for over a year (yes, even us organised folk get caught up in life). I had received no reminder he was due. My old (private) dentist came in ahead of the Auckland Regional Dental Service in the Google results. Then I went through approximately eight layers of Interactive Voice Response to get voicemail, followed by an exchange of voicemail messages.

I could have made one call to my (private) dentist.

What happens to those parents

who don’t think of making a regular appointment? Or without a searchable calendar to readily check the child’s last appointment? Or without the ability to spend a day organising the visit?

No amount of testing babies will make up for these basic needs: a prompt to make an appointment, and an easy process. These are adult activities.

Miranda Young, Auckland