Supporting deadly smiles at Koobara Kindy

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kindergarten students are learning important life lessons about taking care of their teeth with regular visits by the Metro North Health’s Deadly Smiles team.

Metro North Oral Health Service Business Planning and Improvement Manager Lina Hunter said these visits were a very important step in delivering prevention and early intervention oral health programs to young children and their families.

“Being able to join the kids and families at the Koobara Kindergarten and Pre-Prep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation is an important step in our health equity journey,” she said.

“Each visit we see a number of families and many kindergarten children enjoying the Deadly Smiles experience and taking advantage of the free dental screening and education program on offer.

“Putting preventive and screening measures in place and being more mobile in the community is a cost-effective preventive measure that can help reduce decay rates by improving access to care.

“This program aims to improve access to dental care for First Nations people.

“The visits include free dental check-ups, healthy snacks and free preventative packs for the kids.”

As part of the program, a dental referral pathway is also provided to public sector oral health care facilities for children who may need extra dental care.

Lina said the Deadly Smiles visits would continue to occur each term over the next few years.

“The visit is part of a series of oral health family screening days we have delivered for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over recent years,” she said.

Staff visiting include dental technicians, dentists and oral hygiene specialists from both Child and Adolescent Oral Health Services and General Practice Oral Health Services.

Metro North Health’s goal is to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing our health services will receive care that is culturally responsive, empowers self-care and choice, and is designed to improve health and wellbeing.