New Zealand dentists join forces to host free dental event
Dentists from 80 dental clinics across New Zealand have joined forces to provide free treatment for over a thousand patients over the course of the last couple of weeks.
As part of an event organised by the New Zealand Dental Association and Southern Cross Healthcare, volunteers from practices all over the country teamed up to offer free treatments to patients in possession of a Community Services Card. Services that were available included check-ups, extractions and fillings.
Bridget Heer, owner of Dentistry at Musselburgh, said that many people who don’t go to the dentist on a regular basis avoid the dental chair due to costs, and this is why free dental events are so important. The clinic hosted two free surgeries, providing free treatment for 17 patients.
Although participating clinics offered free services on a one-off basis, many of the dentists involved provided patients with packs of dental supplies, and offered information about oral hygiene, healthy eating and affordable dental services.
Jasmine Wright, 22, a student at the University of Otago, was one patient to benefit from the event. She hadn’t been to the dentist for four years, mainly due to the fact that she couldn’t afford the cost of care. After visiting the Musselburgh clinic, Jasmine ended up having three fillings. The free clinics, which were advertised on social media, attracted a large number of young people.
Join this Discussion