Flying Doctor brings dental services to outback Queensland towns
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
We’ve all heard of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). Its aeromedical retrieval and primary health care has been an essential part of life in rural Queensland since for almost 100 years.
It’s less well known for bringing dentists to outback towns, a service it launched almost 10 years ago.
Many small Queensland towns don’t have a dentist, so people may have to travel long distances to get their dental care. RFDS Queensland CEO, Meredith Staib, said the dental service is vital in those locations.
“Regular dental check-ups are so important for overall health, but Queenslanders in rural and remote locations often have to travel a long way to visit the dentist.
“That can mean taking time off work or school, and time away from home.
“We help to bridge this gap, ensuring people have access to a dentist and dental services on a regular basis, close to home.”
The RFDS Dental Service operates from a purpose-built mobile dental surgery with state-of-the-art equipment, including an OPG machine, an important dental diagnostic scanning tool.
The dental surgery doesn’t fly. It travels the dusty outback roads, providing oral health maintenance, X-rays and extractions, treatment for acute or pre-existing conditions and treatment for gum disease.
This week, the mobile dental surgery is in Boulia, in the Queensland Channel country, about 300 kilometres south of Mount Isa.
RFDS Principal Dentist, Stevie Dilley, said travelling to rural Queensland communities is her favourite part of the job.
“For many people, going to the dentist can be a scary experience – particularly if it’s their first time, so we always ensure patients feel comfortable and at ease when they visit the mobile surgery.
“It’s a privilege to be part of the RFDS Dental Service and to be able to provide vital dental care for people in outback communities.”
RFDS mobile dental surgery locations:
Boulia: 23 August to 1 September
Bedourie: 13 September to 17 September
Winton: 20 September to 22 September
Winton: 5 October to 13 October
Winton: 25 October to 4 November
Tambo: 15 November to 24 November
