There is unlikely to be another round of consultation over revamping school dental services and fears that large numbers of Otago children could end up with " black and toothless smiles" are unfounded, district health board managers say.
Otago District Health Board women, children and public health group manager Pip Stewart said the changes, which will be introduced over three years, were a " good news story" and part of a well-grounded Ministry of Health strategy which aimed at improving oral health for the whole of life.
She was responding to comments from Otago Primary Principals Association president Steve Hayward concerned at the effect on children of the changes, particularly for those who might find it difficult to reach the new centres.
Once the proposals are in place there will be eight fixed clinics in Otago and two mobile clinics which will tour 17 sites.
These facilities will replace the existing 85 dental chairs in about 60 clinics, but changes are not likely to be seen before next year.
Although about $5 million in government funding was announced earlier this year, the changes have been in the wings for several years after a 2004 review showed that all of the then 66 clinics failed to meet at least one of a range of standards.
Board community oral health service project manager Graham Bugler said he could understand concerns some principals still had about the most marginalised children not being able to travel to centres for treatment, but he believed ways could be found around that.
Contrary to what had been reported, clinic closures as a result of the proposed changes were not beginning this month.
A few clinics where there were concerns over their quality might close this year, but he did not wish to specify them.
Clinics in Clinton, Clutha Valley, Sterling, Heriot, Waitaki Valley, Brighton and Waldronville have all closed in recent years.
Mr Bugler said it was hoped that by the middle of this month that sites for both mobile units and the fixed clinics would have been identified. The mobile clinics must be sited on Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health land.
