Kids to receive free dental check ups in schools through ‘smile squad’ vans set to save families $400 a year
- School kids are set to receive free dental check ups through ‘Smile Squad’ vans
- The incentive is expected to save families $400 a year, Victoria Government said
- Program is being rolled out at 22 public schools across the state for term three
School kids are set to receive free dental check ups through ‘Smile Squad’ vans parked in their playgrounds this month.
The incentive, which is anticipated to save families about $400 a year per child, is being rolled out at a select number of Victorian schools for term three.
The Victorian Government intends to extend the service to all of the state’s public schools by the end of 2022.
The ‘Smile Squad’ vans, which are set to save families $400 a year, are being rolled out at a select number of Victorian schools for term three (stock image)
The ‘Smile Squad’ vans will give the students free dental care including check-ups, radiographs, teeth cleaning, application of fluoride and dental sealants, fillings, root canals and impressions for mouthguards.
While the initiative is expected to save families a few hundred dollars, it also removes the inconvenience of taking time off from work to schedule a dental check up.
It should also ease the burden on the public dental system by freeing up more than 100,000 places for adults, The Herald Sun reported.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the program is an important measure to financially assist families in receiving necessary health treatments.
‘Oral health is so important for kids, but we know busy families can sometimes struggle to find the time and money to get to the dentist,’ she said.
There are more than 650,000 young people eligible for the election-promise treatment.
Premier Daniel Andrews said: ‘Our students deserve bright and healthy smiles – without the high costs. Our landmark free dental program will help ensure Victorian kids have good teeth, as well as helping parents save on dental bills’.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the program is an important measure to financially assist families in receiving necessary health treatments. ‘Oral health is so important for kids, but we know busy families can sometimes struggle to find the time and money to get to the dentist,’ she said (stock image)