Dental students help boost care for local patients
The Far West LHD public dental service is hosting four dental students, which will help boost care for local patients. The final year dentistry students are on two four-week clinical placements this month and in October 2020.
The students get a great snapshot of public dentistry including the kinds of treatments they can perform in a public setting. Patient treatment needs provided by the students will be whilst under the supervision of the RFDS Rural and Remote Dental Service Manager, and senior clinician, Dr Lyn Mayne. The students will assist the BH Public Dental Service manage its waiting list by helping to provide additional clinics to the service currently provided.
The dental student program is operated in collaboration with the UDRH and the RFDS.
Karen Kennedy, Far West LHD Oral Health Manager, said the students will benefit from the unique experiences of working and living in the far west.
'The students will experience working and living in a remote location (Broken Hill and its surrounding areas) which can be quite unique for them,' she said.
Dr Mayne said that it is wonderful to be able to assist with the training of these final year dental students who have had their final year of training interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
'I hope to be able to assist the students, in becoming confident clinicians, who are able to consolidate their clinical skills, and provide much needed dental treatment to the patients of the Far West.'
Mrs Kennedy said with student programs that their exposure to working in the Far West and its many attractions might spark a desire to return in their respective professions.