The world’s first and most comprehensive aeromedical service is now using wings and wheels to improve dental health across the Central West.
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The Royal Flying Doctor Service, South Eastern Section (RFDS SE) is using an expansion of its dental health teams in Dubbo and Broken Hill in a strategy to reduce the health gap between people in remote, rural and regional areas and those in cities.
Dr Jenny Pham and Dr Terry Chao join the Dubbo team which has had success in restoring oral health to the communities of Bourke, Collarenebri, Goodooga and Lightning Ridge since 2012.
“Our new five-ton truck is, in effect, a mobile dental clinic complete with chair, x-ray and all the equipment you find in a normal dentistry,” senior dentist at RFDS SE Dr Lyn Mayne said.
“Existing fly-in clinics will operate as normal, but our new dental van enables us to extend oral healthcare to communities we don’t currently serve and those who don’t have airstrips.”
“Better access to oral health services will help to improve the general health of people living in Far Western NSW, poor dental health being linked to other conditions such as, cardiovascular disease, stroke, low birth weight, pneumonia and diabetes.”
The mobile dental clinic will move between the RFDS SE’s bases at Dubbo and Broken Hill serving communities around both hubs and in between.
The van has done a number of clinics while based in Dubbo, including Enngonia, Lightning Ridge, Goodooga and Angledool. On the way back to Broken Hill it will stop at Yunta and the Coombah Roadhouse.
“This first trip was all about bedding in the truck and the dental team, assessing dental needs and establishing a regular schedule,” added Dr Mayne.
“As in 2012, when we started operating in the Central West, we see the need for dental services is great.
“In Enngonia we did checkups on 18 kids on the first day, 13 of which required multiple restorations and extractions.
“Among them was four-year-old Heaven, who came with her father complaining of “black teeth.” Happily, we were able to restore her beautiful smile.”
Greg Sam, Chief Executive Officer of the RFDS SE, said the Section was looking forward to providing dental services and oral health education to more people within the RFDS SE network.
The team will meet with Bright Smiles fundraisers today in Dubbo as they raise funds to support the program.
