The Minister for Health has announced that 146 schools will be added to the Smile Squad dental program this year, almost doubling the number of schools visited last year.
Minister Jenny Mikakos said families in Campaspe, East Gippsland, Macedon Ranges, Maribyrnong, Melton, Wangaratta and parts of Casey and Hume were next on the list to receive free dental care.
“The Smile Squad vans are visiting schools in Brimbank, Buloke, Greater Bendigo, Hepburn, Latrobe, Mansfield, and Towong from term one – joining schools in South Barwon, Box Hill, Cranbourne and Wodonga that received a visit last year,” Ms Mikakos said.
“That means this year we’re inviting more than 300 schools to participate and offer free dental treatment to more than 100,000 additional Victorian students,” she said.
“The Smile Squad vans provide free check-ups and treatment to all students in Victorian public schools.”
Ms Mikakos said a quarter of children across Australia had untreated tooth decay and, in Victoria, dental conditions were the highest single cause of preventable hospitalisations for children under 10.
She said the checkups included teeth cleaning, fluoride application, fissure sealants, fillings, root canals and any other non-cosmetic treatments.
Ms Mikakos said that once the free dental care program was fully rolled out in 2022, it would provide check-ups and dental treatment to more than 650,000 public school kids every year.
