Oral Health Van

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Open up and say 'ah' - the oral health van hits the road again

The University of Newcastle's mobile oral health van is hitting the road again to provide free oral health services to the Central Coast community.

The service, which is available to seniors and current Health Care Card holders, is staffed by Oral Health students from the University's Central Coast campus.

Students offer check-ups, teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments under the supervision of a certified dentist.

The van will be located at Legends car park at Mingara from Tuesday 6 August until Tuesday 20 August. It will then move to Kibble Park at Gosford from 27 August until 17 September. The final location for the year is The Entrance Waterfront from Tuesday 8 October until 5 November.

The service will be offered every Tuesday. Appointments can be made on (02) 4349 4416.

As well as offering the local community free oral health care, the service provides students with invaluable work experience that counts towards their studies and which they can take into their professional lives.

The mobile oral health service is made possible by public donations to the University of Newcastle Foundation, which continues to maintain the specially-equipped van.

"The mobile oral health service is invaluable to the local region and would not have been possible without corporate and community support," said University of Newcastle Foundation Acting CEO Libby Rodgers-McPhee.

"We need to maintain this financial backing to sustain the service in the future."

The van and the trailer were originally donated by Medfin, a provider of finance for healthcare professionals. Medfin, together with NAB health, also covered many costs to repair and refit the van.

Other ongoing supporters are: The Bateau Bay Mens' Shed, the Rotary Club of North Gosford, Wyong Shire Council, William Green Dental Supplies, Karagi Court, Gastrohealth, Coast Shelter, the Co-op Bookshop, Dentsply, Colgate and the Rotary and Lions Clubs at The Entrance.

Anyone interested in making a donation to support this project can contact the University of Newcastle Foundation on +612 4921 7453 or www.newcastle.edu.au/foundation.

Contact

  • Tanya Carlyle
  • Phone: +612 4985 4178

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