School Dental Service
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School Dental Service
OTAGO SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE – TE WAKA ORAKA NIHO
The Otago School Dental Service provides FREE basic dental care and dental health for children from the age of six months until they begin high school.
Children receive their dental care at school dental clinics, mobile dental units at schools, or at the Otago University School of Dentistry.
Services we provide
Our service provides free dental care for children from six months of age until they leave Year 8 (Form II) to go to high school. You will be notified before any treatment is started, to obtain your consent.
Dental checks
Your child will be seen for an examination once a year, or more often if this is needed.
Other dental services may include:
- Dental health education - helpful information for keeping teeth healthy
- Cleaning/scaling - to remove plaque/tartar and stains
- Fluoride Treatment – fluoride varnish applied to teeth to help prevent tooth decay
- Fillings in baby & permanent teeth
- Extraction of baby teeth
- Local anaesthetic – to make treatment comfortable
- Radiographs – dental x-rays as required
- Fissures sealants – plastics coating on teeth to help prevent decay
- Sealed restorations – small white fillings covered by fissure sealants.
Your rights
- To be given consideration and respect regardless of age, gender, race, culture, beliefs and disability
- To be treated with skill and care by professionally qualified personnel
- To have all aspects of your child’s care kept strictly confidential
- To have access to your child’s dental records
- To be provided with enough information and encouraged to ask questions so that you can make informed choices about your child’s dental care
- You have the right to refuse any aspect of treatment and be told the implications of your decision.
To help us we ask that you…
- Provide correct and up to date information about your child’s health, as this may affect dental care
- Come to appointments on time and let us know if you are unable to attend
- Tell us if you change your address or telephone number.
Dental appointments
- You are welcome to come to the clinic with your child and contact the dental therapist whenever you want to
- Please return your child’s medical history and consent forms so that treatment can begin
- Please tell the dental therapist if you can’t keep the appointment.
Your child’s first dental appointment
- Encourage a positive attitude - explain that the dental therapist is your child’s friend and is there to help
- Make the appointment for early in the day
- Be positive and avoid words such as “hurt”, “drill”, and “needle”
- The dental therapist provides dental treatment and advice where appropriate, and is happy to answer any questions you may have.
Treatments not available at dental clinics
You will be told if your child needs dental treatment that cannot be provided at the school dental clinic. For treatment that is funded as a Special Dental Benefit, you will be given a referral to a dentist, and this treatment is free. Other treatment will be at your own expense. If your child has an accident to the teeth this will be treated under ACC by a dentist.
Orthodontic treatment (straightening of teeth) is not provided by the School Dental Service. The dental therapist will advise you if an orthodontic problem is identified. You may choose a dentist or an orthodontist at your own expense.
Confidentiality
- Information collected by the School Dental Service about your child is used to ensure that we provide appropriate dental care and treatment. It is also used in statistical analysis and in service planning
- You do not have to supply the information we request, although if you choose not to, we may be unable to provide some kinds of care for your child
- The information we hold about your child will be available to the School Dental Service staff providing care for your child, and where necessary to dentists to whom your child is referred. Non-clinical information may be given to staff at the school your child is attending
- If your child transfers to another District Health Board region, the dental records may be forwarded to the service taking over dental care
- Information about your child will not be given to anyone else without your consent, and you are entitled to access and correct it.
Quality control
To check that high standards of dental care are being provided by the dental therapist, your child may be asked to come for an extra check-up by another school dental service, dental therapist or dentist.
Satisfaction
If you have any complaints, concerns, or suggestions to improve dental services for children please contact either your dental therapist or:
The Manager
School Dental Services
PO Box 5144
Dunedin
Tel: (03) 476 5896
Contact details
Dental School Services
Public Health South
Main Block, Level 2
Wakari Hospital
Taieri Rd
Dunedin 9010
Phone: 03 4769835 or 03 479 9896
Teenage enrolment
Before your child begins Year 9 (high school) we will send you an enrolment form for continuing free dental care.
Free dental care is provided to those under 18 years of age, whether they are attending school, work or a course (this doesn’t include orthodontic, braces or straightening teeth).
If you have any questions about teenage enrolment please contact the Adolescent Co-ordinator on 03 476 9834.