The dental bus

**Phteven** · April 13th, 2008, 11:38 AM

What happened to the dental bus?
when I was at primary school (in the early 80's) in QLD there was a dental bus that went around all the schools with a dentist and dental nurse who did a check-up on everyone, a flouride treatment and minor repairs like fillings. They also came into the classroom and did a little lecture about oral health and they had that red stuff that shows you your plaque.
Even though they were the dentist everyone liked them because when it was your turn you got out of class for a while.
I'm guessing that they don't visit anymore.
Does anyone else remember them? Maybe it was a rural thing?
When did they get rid of them?
Did other states have them?
It was such a great initiative and a much better use of tax money than a car for every MP.

I think we should campaign to bring them back!!!

**Trillian** · April 13th, 2008, 11:44 AM

LMAO Chloe, I remember them well. Ours was a silver caravan type thing and would come to our school once or twice a year and everyone would get shepherded through for a dental check.

AFAIK, they don't have the 'bus' around here anymore, but attached to my kids school is a dental clinic (which is where the travelling dental technician was based at when she wasn't travelling around the countryside to other schools) and often they will go to the preschools etc and each child will be given a quick check over to see if there are any noticably visible problems and if there are they are then the child is given a note to take home notifying you that they need further treatment, or that everything was A-OK. So because of this practice, I assume that they pensioned off the caravan because of costs to run it and get everyone to go to them instead of them going to the schools.

**Pandora** · April 13th, 2008, 12:00 PM

we had a dental 'van' in victoria that was usually supervised final or penultimate year dental students with little to no patience (lots of patients though). they destroyed DHs teeth. I still have a memory of being screamed at by the dentist cos my mouth wasnt open wide enough.

They were excellent in recognising that I needed orthodontic work, but theres no way I'd send DS there after the experiences DH and I had.

We also had a clinic that is attached to one of the primary schools, I wonder if its still there..

**Astrid** · April 13th, 2008, 12:27 PM

I remember there being one growing up in Tassie. Most of the dentists were quite nice, but there was some controversy with one whose referral rate for braces as quite high, turned out her husband was an orthodontist and she was referring everyone to him.

I had not even thought that they may not still be around, so very interested to know what is the current practice in Victoria.

**Indadhanu** · April 13th, 2008, 01:22 PM

Hmmmm, the school dental vans are still around in QLD (my 7yo bro just had a check up at his primary school... not a rural area either so I am assuming it's a statewide and not a regional thing), so QLD still do it. Dunno bout other states though.

**Janie** · April 13th, 2008, 01:28 PM

Mmmmm, I should know this LOL. I DO know that there are community clinics that house 'School Dental', I have worked in them! I just can't think if there are any dental vans left. Well, I know there are vans, but I'm not sure if they're used for 'School Dental'. I think there might be a few, but not alot, so they obviously can't get around to all the schools. I have a feeling that they're utilised in the, um, less well-off areas. But I could be wrong, please correct me if I am!

**aussienic** · June 23rd, 2009, 11:42 AM

Its here lol.. My boys just went to the Dental van last monday.

**Visitor7** · June 23rd, 2009, 11:45 AM

Still here as well.

**rufalina** · June 23rd, 2009, 11:48 AM

We were in the school with the regional dentist attached, so it was regular 6 monthly appts for us... YICK... But it was good, cause you got time out of class...

**~clover~** · July 25th, 2009, 10:21 PM

Not here. DD1 is in her 3rd year at school & all we have is Medicare funded dental clinics, & a travelling dentist to rural areas. Nothing through the schools though, you have to find them & organise it yourself.
We lived 2 hours North West of Dubbo & they came into town, but here where we are more urbanised, we still have to travel 70 - 80 kms to Coffs Hospital.