Maribyrnong school students will soon enjoy the landmark Smile Squad free dental program, after Member for Footscray Katie Hall recently announced local schools in Maribyrnong are being invited to join in 2020.
Smile Squad vans will provide free check-ups and treatment including teeth cleaning, fluoride application, fissure sealants, fillings, root canals and any other non-cosmetic treatments
The program started in August last year, and is being expanded to include more schools across Victoria – 300 schools will be included and be able to offer free dental treatment to their more than 100,000 students.
Member for Footscray Katie Hall said; “When it comes to oral health care, early prevention is the key and the Smile Squad program is designed to set our kids up with healthy habits for the rest of their lives.”
Across Australia, a quarter of all children have untreated tooth decay and in Victoria, dental conditions are the highest single cause of preventable hospitalisations for kids under 10.
“Our kids deserve to have healthy happy smiles, but busy families can often struggle to find the time to get to the dentist. That’s why this program is so important.”
Once fully rolled out in 2022, the program will provide examinations and dental treatment for more than 650,000 public school kids every year.
Check smilesquad.vic.gov.au for more information.
