Bridging the gap: a dental access initiative for Northland children.
This paper describes a dental access initiative in Northland, New Zealand, to investigate the feasibility and benefits of engaging a mobile community dentist to accept referrals of children who required treatment beyond the scope of practice of dental therapists. The pilot programme aimed to provide equitable and timely access to the services of a publicly funded dentist, for children living in the more economically-deprived and rural areas of Northland.
Northland Health Public Dental Service, Whangarei. Neil.Croucher@northlanddhb.org.nz
Neil
N
Croucher
Johan
J
Ackermann
D002648:Child; D003149:Community Dentistry / Q000191:economics; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000193:education; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000191:economics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005246:Feedback; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D009520:New Zealand; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000191:economics; D012571:School Dentistry / Q000191:economics; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000628:therapy