On Friday, local dental practice Smilehaus along with 52 other clinics throughout New Zealand provided free dental care on the 6th annual Smile NZ Free Dental Day, for one day, to those most in need.
Unfortunately, those most in need are often not treated until they present at emergency departments, usually in acute pain with serious infection that can at times be life threatening. The cost of untreated dental disease on the health system and on the health of the individual is very heavy.
Patients for the free day were booked through NZ Dental Association, and given both immediate treatment and counselling on how to better care for their oral health.
Smilehaus commented to BayBuzz: “It’s a drop in the ocean, but hopefully today we have relieved a tiny part of the burden on the public health system in New Zealand.”
Well done Smilehaus!