Relaunch Of Mobile Dental Service For Schools

Media Release

Date: Wednesday, 25th February

Lumino The Dentists Campaigns For Children’s Dental Health With Relaunch Of Mobile Service For Schools

Lumino The Dentists has launched a fleet of updated mobile dental units, as part of its campaign to improve the dental health of New Zealand adolescents. The first schools to enjoy the revamped units were Tamaki College and Whangaparaoa College.

Qualified dentist, Dr Daad Al-Falahi (BDS), oversees a Lumino mobile unit that travels around schools in Central and South Auckland. She hopes that the units, two of which have received an exterior make-over, will raise awareness of the free dental service.

‘There is a real need for mobile dental services in New Zealand,’ says Dr Al-Falahi. ‘Some of the adolescents I see have never been to the dentist. Some of them don’t even own a toothbrush. Hopefully, more parents will notice these rebranded dental units around town and will push their schools into making the service available.’

Dr Al-Falahi believes that lack of education, understanding and time are the main barriers to improving the dental health of adolescents in New Zealand.

‘Many New Zealand parents are juggling a number of different commitments,’ explains Daad. ‘It can be a struggle to find the time to take a child to the dentist, especially if that child is from a single-parent family or if both parents are working. The mobile dental units remove this stress by coming directly to the child. It has never been easier to access free dental treatment for adolescents.’

‘Many parents also don’t realise that children are entitled to free treatment until 18 years of age,’ adds Dr Al-Falahi. ‘Education is vital, which is why we work very closely with the schools to communicate with parents, speak at school assemblies and provide Colgate packs, showing the correct way to brush. On top of this, parents are welcome to visit the units on the school grounds if they have any questions.’

Lumino has three dental units, which currently visit 28 secondary schools throughout Auckland. Every year, a team of highly experienced dentists, therapists and nurses, provide free dental check-ups, treatments and advice to over 9,000 adolescents under the age of 18.

Lumino The Dentists mobile units are equipped with the latest dental equipment. Each unit also has a digital x-ray imaging facility.

The programme is fully funded by the Ministry of Health and is widely recognised as the most effective model for delivering quality dental care to New Zealand’s secondary school students.

Schoolchildren can also be seen privately by paediatric specialist, Nina Vasan, at New Zealand’s first specialist paediatric dental practice, Kidz-Teeth. Under-18s are also welcome at Lumino fixed clinics.

ENDS

About Lumino The Dentists:

Lumino The Dentists was acquired by leading healthcare and medical services provider, Abano Healthcare, in 2002 and has since flourished, becoming New Zealand’s largest dental healthcare organisation.

Lumino The Dentists offers a nationwide service, with a network of 42 high quality practices spanning across both the North and South Islands. Practices offer a wide choice of preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments including whitening, porcelain veneers, crowns, white fillings, and orthodontics.

The aim at Lumino The Dentists is to offer the highest standard of dental healthcare to New Zealanders no matter where they live through a growing family of skilled practitioners.

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