A rural dental campervan has been instrumental in providing dental care to communities in the Ruapehu Whanganui region. During the recent school holidays, Te Oranganui Trust, in partnership with Te Whatu Ora Whanganui, Ngāti Rangi, and the New Zealand Army, offered mobile dental services to families in Ōhākune and Whanganui.
According to Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata, the chief executive of Te Oranganui Trust, the mobile clinics facilitated dental work valued at $150,000, reaching approximately 300 individuals. However, he emphasized that this number represents only a small fraction of the community’s overall dental needs.
Walsh-Tapiata shared some poignant stories from the patients they served, revealing the dire circumstances many faced due to the high cost of dental care. “Oh my gosh. Some people came and told us stories about not being able to afford the dentist, and therefore using fishing line and pliers to extract their teeth. Others shared that they had only three teeth left and felt compelled to have them all removed because they realized it was time to pursue plates or dentures,” he said.
Furthermore, the team referred over 100 individuals to local hospitals for more complex dental issues requiring professional attention. This outreach highlights the critical need for accessible dental care in rural areas and the impact of innovative solutions like mobile dental services on improving oral health in underserved communities.
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