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Dental blitz means healthier teeth for Territorians

The waiting time for routine dental care in the NT has been slashed in half since

The waiting time for routine dental care in the NT has been slashed in half since the start of the NT Dental Wait List Blitz seven months ago.

The Blitz was launched by NT Health Minister Kon Vatskalis in late 2009 and since then, the waiting time for eligible clients to receive routine dental treatment has been reduced from four years to two years.

More than 1200 clients have been seen under the Henderson Government initiated Blitz, which committed $1.5 million to the Blitz.

"The Dental Wait List Blitz has been a very successful initiative, and by the time it finishes at the end of June, the waiting period will be reduced even further," Mr Vatskalis said.

"There are currently around 1400 on the waiting list, and 1100 of these people have been waiting for treatment for less than a year.

"There are only 150 people on the waiting list now who have been waiting between one and two years for treatment. The only clients on the wait list for more than two years are those we have been unable to contact to arrange treatment for.

"This is a fantastic outcome for Territorians, and such a vast reduction in waiting times demonstrates the hard work the Dental teams involved have put into the Blitz.

"The target of providing services to 1350 clients will have been achieved when the Blitz finishes at the end of June."

The additional services have been delivered through a partnership between the DHF Oral Health Service and Aspen Medical, who have provided three dentists to the Darwin Dental Clinic.

To be eligible to receive free treatment from DHF, adult clients must have a Health Care Card or Concession Card. Most of the Dental Blitz work is carried out at the DHF operated clinics in Darwin and Palmerston.

Residents of remote communities have benefited from the Dental Blitz, with a 20 per cent increase in the number of days dental professionals have spent in communities treating clients.

"When the Dental Blitz is complete, the Northern Territory will have one of the shorter waiting lists in Australia," Mr Vatskalis said.

"The Government has made an ongoing commitment of $750,000 to maintain the reduced waiting times, and to further increase services in remote communities."