Page 13 - ICD Newsletter November 2022 Final Draft6

Foundation. The principals and teachers expressed huge focus to place Fuji 7 as fissure protections on
an interest in using these brushes to establish permanent molars (more than 700 in September).
toothbrushing programmes at school. Again, the
principals and teaching staff of all schools were very
pleased to have us back at their schools following
up on the oral health of their tamariki and were so
welcoming and helpful.

It was fantastic to drop into the primary schools to
see they have implemented the gifted toothbrushes
from The Humble Foundation into daily toothbrushing
programmes at the primary schools. Looking forward
to working alongside Dr Danny and the Cooks
MOH again in 2023 when I return to evaluate how

the clinical treatments, preventive work and OHE
In April 2022, fluoride was detected occurring provided in 2022 have improved the oral health
naturally in a drinking-water sample found in a private burden of the children of Aitutaki
groundwater supply in the north of the island at 0.57
mg/L, a good level for a tropical climate. In June I Thanks again for your support - Meitaki Atupaka.
brought further drinking-water samples back to New
Zealand to be analysed by Hills Laboratories. These Liz Webb, webbonponga@xtra.co.nz
June drinking-water samples also revealed naturally
occurring fluoride in groundwaters in samples taken Community Outreach Dental
from north Aitutaki and in one area in the central
part of Aitutaki. Excellent news if safe reticulation Program (CODP)
of these waters could be possible for community
drinking waters.

Due to the heavy clinical workload remaining for the
tamariki after the June visit, in September I returned
with one other New Zealand dental therapist for one
month. Our flights were generously funded by Milton
Rotary of Dunedin and the Kerikeri Rotary Clubs of
New Zealand and our accommodation funded by
MOH Cooks – Maitake Atupaka, Dr Danny! Working
out of the same clinic, together we donated over
200 clinical hours to the tamariki of all three primary
schools and their attached kindergartens. Again, the
focus was to temporise/fill any decayed permanent Despite global upheaval and uncertainty, the
teeth and extract any painful infected deciduous Adelaide Community Outreach Dental Program
teeth. Over 80 Hall SSC were placed, mainly on (CODP) continues its mission to provide dental care
kindergarten aged children and again there was a for marginalised people who have limited access

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