THE Royal Flying Doctor Dental Clinic will land in Kerang later this month, opening up more crucial access to vulnerable locals.
The clinic will be parked at RSL Drive, next to the Kerang Memorial Hall, from October 24 until January 20, offering free check-ups, treatment and oral health advice to eligible patients.
The Flying Doctor Dental Clinic works in collaboration with Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) and Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) to provide oral health services to communities in rural Victoria.
The dental team consist of dentists, oral health therapists and dental assistants who travel to rural and remote communities to provide examinations, oral health promotion and treatment services to eligible community members.
“Poor oral health is linked to infections and chronic disease and can have a significant impact on both health and quality of life,” a spokesperson said.
“Oral disease is largely preventable through access and regular visits to a dental practitioner, however, people living and working in rural and remote areas are disproportionately affected by problems associated with poor oral health.
“This is largely due to difficulty accessing dental care, including the need to travel a significant distance to reach public dental clinics, due to the small and sparsely distributed populations and a lack of private dentists.
“By bringing our dental trucks into these communities, we help eliminate the barrier of distance and allow locals to prioritise their oral health.”
Those eligible to receive treatment are all children 17 years and under, adults aged 18 years and over who have a Health Care or Pensioner Concession card, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all refugees and asylum seekers and holders of a DVA gold card.
To make an appointment, contact the Royal Flying Doctor Dental Clinic team on (03) 8412 0444.
To find out more or to download your free colour-in teeth-cleaning calendar go to flyingdoctor.org.au/vic/our-services/mobile-dental-care
