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Free dental treatments given to needy kiwi families

Over $200,000 of free dental treatments given to needy kiwi families on kidscan lumino day 2015


For the third year running, Lumino The Dentists and KidsCan teamed up for an entire day to provide free dental treatments to those in need throughout New Zealand, treating over 550 patients.

Thirty Lumino practices across New Zealand, from Whangarei to Gore, opened their doors on Saturday 13 June 2015 to KidsCan families and other low-income patients. This is the biggest free dental day of its kind in New Zealand and the value of the donated dental treatment exceeded $200,000, with over 550 patients receiving free dental care.

Across New Zealand 211 Lumino team members – 71 dentists, 20 hygienists, 72 Dental assistants, 29 reception staff and 18 office support people – all volunteered their time to provide the much-needed dental care.

Staff were inspired by the stories they heard, and every patient treated had a story to tell.

When Telasia Manu and her husband Ohuafi stepped into Como St Lumino in Takapuna with their four-year-old son Dante Manu on Saturday, they hadn’t been to the dentist in eight years, since arriving in New Zealand from Tonga. The Lumino KidsCan day couldn’t have come at a better time for them, as both had fillings that desperately needed to be replaced. Telasia also had one filling recently fall out, but she hadn’t yet been able to get it treated.

“I’m feeling so good now. The filling was getting worse and worse. Now it’s getting better and better.”

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Telasia was initially nervous she wouldn’t be able to explain herself, but she found the Lumino team very helpful and felt they explained the treatment carefully to her, as well as teaching her how to care for her teeth afterwards.

Mother of six, Haitelenisia Paongo, 31, visited Lumino Dental One in Remuera, Auckland, with three generations of her family – her youngest daughter, husband, sister and their mother. It had been 10 years since she had visited a dentist.

“I’m very grateful. As soon as I heard about the day I booked for the family.”

Marketing manager for Lumino The Dentists, Kerry Dunphy, says the day was positive and uplifting for the entire organisation. The year on year increase in donated treatment – an additional value of around $30,000 - and the uplift in patient numbers makes Dunphy extremely proud of the Lumino team.

“I can’t tell you how humbled we all are by the people we were privileged to help on Lumino Day. This day has become so important to each and every one of us because of the difference it makes to people. It’s incredible to be part of this event.”

ENDS

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