The Star: September 08, 2016

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14 follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch Thursday September 8 2016 News The Star Getting to the root of Canterbury By the time an average Canterbury child turns five, they will have had at least one tooth decayed, extracted or filled. Gabrielle Stuart looked into the problem, and the work local groups are doing to turn it around FOUR-YEAR-OLD Leah Gibbons is proud of her sparkly white teeth. Some of her peers are not so lucky. One in every three children in Christchurch will have problems with their teeth before they start school – a filling needed, or even rotten teeth removed. In the worst cases local dentists have seen, pre-schoolers have had to have all their teeth removed. Some pre-schoolers are already so self-conscious about their teeth, they are afraid to smile. Fizzy and sugary drinks – now often cheaper than buying water – take a share of the blame, as do a lack of regular brushing SMILES: Four-year-old Walnut Tree Preschool children Ayla Kittelty, Tyson Taukiri and Leah Gibbons have been to their dental check-ups – but many of their peers have missed out. PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER or missed dental appointments which could have caught problems early. But missing appointments did not mean someone was a bad parent, CDHB community and public health advisory committee member Rochelle Faimalo said. “A lot of the hubs are open during school hours, which makes it very hard for working parents,” she said. As a busy parent, it was easy to lose track of when children were due for check-ups, she said. Part of the problem is families falling through the cracks in the dental system. Pre-schoolers are supposed to have free dental check-ups each year, when they are two, three and four, and then when they start school. BY THE NUMBERS: •One in every three Canterbury children will have problems with their teeth, from cavities to extractions, by the time they start school •The average Canterbury pre-schooler will have problems with one tooth, a Māori child two teeth, and a Pasifika child three •One in every six preschoolers had their dental enrolments cancelled because their family could not be contacted – 1184 children in total. •The CDHB aims to have 95 per cent of preschoolers enrolled in dental services. Last year just 61 per cent were, a drop from 69 per cent in 2014 Under the current system, families are called three times within the space of a month to remind them of a check-up. But if they don’t respond or can’t be reached within that time, they are cut from the system. Heat Pump Specials GE35 4kW 4KW Heat Heat Pump Pump from from only only $2,299 $2,199 GE50 5.8kW 5.8KW Heat Pump from only only $2,749 $2,649 FH50 6.0kW 6.0KW Heat Pump from only $3,499 $3,399 INCLUDES INSTALLATION. CONDITIONS APPLY. 379-3589 www.snowtemp.co.nz Technology Serving Canterbury for 33 years 196 Wordsworth Street, Christchurch Heat Pump Installation/Repairs • Refrigeration Design, Build, Repairs www.hagley.school.nz
The Star follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch Thursday September 8 2016 15 children’s tooth decay Then unless the family approaches a dentist, the child may completely miss out on check-ups until they start school. In Canterbury, one in every six pre-schoolers had their enrolment in the programme cancelled. That was even worse for Māori or Pasifika children. One in every four pre-schoolers who identified as Māori had their enrolment cancelled, and almost half of Pasifika children. CDHB health board member Jo Kane said the numbers showed the system had been “an epic fail in many areas”. “This model has been around for a long time, and I think it is time now to ask has it made a difference?” she said. The children’s enrolments are being cancelled even though other departments within the CDHB often have up-to-date contact information for those families. Planning and funding project specialist Bridget Lester said they were not allowed to share it between departments, because of privacy laws. That could change next year, Gorgeous Red Leather 3 Seater & Chaise Only $1899 Come and see us for rent to own Rent to own 225 Linwood Ave 389 7742 Oral health concerns for Maori and Pasifika children IF THE dental problems for the average child are bad, the problem for Māori and Pasifika children are dire. The average Māori five-yearold will have had problems with at least two teeth, and the average Pasifika child three. That compares with one tooth, on average, for children of other ethnicities. Dallas Hibbs, chief executive as a new “opt out” system is rolled out. Under the new system, families will register their children at birth with a range of health providers, and give permission to have their contact information shared within the services, unless they opt out. Community Dental Service clinical director Martin Lee (above) said it could make a big difference. “I would be very disappointed HERITAGE HOUSE TOUR Sunday, 16 October, 2016 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Six Christchurch Heritage Properties, recovered from the earthquakes Tickets Essential – $25 from Ballantynes and Paper Plus Merivale A tour in support of the Ngaio Marsh Heritage House, a Category 1 Historic Place. of community health provider He Waka Tapu, supported the idea of an opt-out system. He said that needed to start when children enrolled in early childhood education. “Given the ongoing costs to the health system of poor oral health, and the personal costs to individuals with poor oral health – the status quo should not be option,” he said. if we did not see significant changes within two years,” he said. But it will only catch children born or signed up after it is rolled out. In the meantime, hundreds of children could still miss out. Fluoridation has also been raised as an option to try to improve pre-schoolers’ teeth. New legislation which would give district health boards rather than councils the power to decide if water will be fluoridated will come into force in 2018. TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR HAREWOOD/BREENS/GARDINERS ROAD INTERSECTIONS VOTE Faimeh Burke Councillor for Harewood - Independant For a Safe, Vibrant & Sustainable Christchurch For All I am always available to listen to your concerns. faimeh@gmail.com 021453466 www.facebook.com/FaimehBurke Authorised by Bruce Tulloch, 11 Trafford Street, Harewood, Christchurch 8051
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The Star: September 08, 2016

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