Colgate and NZDA scratch the surface for 78 patients with charitable dental clinic

Honouring a commitment to improve oral health in New Zealand, Colgate-Palmolive and the New Zealand Dental Association’s (NZDA) free dental clinic in Mangere last week treated 78 high-need patients free of charge.

Sixteen volunteer NZDA dentists extracted 24 teeth – and filled 38 more – over the course of the two-day charitable dental clinic at AUT’s Buckland Road Community Dental Clinic. Thirteen patients also received examinations and cleanings, and eight patients were x-rayed onsite.

NZDA CEO Dr David Crum said he was pleased with the overall results and fully supports initiatives that assist people to learn to prevent dental disease and therefore also reduce the need for costly treatment.
NZDA-Colgate Oral Health Educator Deepa Krishnan said, “This clinic was a great opportunity to help those in dire need, but equally it provided an important opportunity to teach them 1-on-1 how to take better care of their teeth to avoid the consequences of poor oral health in the future.”

“It’s never too late to start.  In fact prevention is our most important message. Only around 65% of adult New Zealanders brush their teeth at least twice a day and this is a major concern,” she said.

An education area was also set up within the clinic where dentists discussed prevention and the importance of good oral health with patients, their children and other extended family members.

The Colgate and NZDA volunteer clinic ran in AUT’s Buckland Road clinic from 8.00am to 5.00pm on both Thursday July 12 and Friday July 13, with four dental chairs in use and 16 dentists each undertaking half day shifts.

Referrals from the Counties Manukau District Health Board-funded Emergency Dental Pain Community Clinics made up the majority of the patient list over the two-day period.