FREE dental check-ups provided to more NSW childrenA FREE dental check for public schools across NSW is celebrating its 1000th public school visit after the NSW Government expanded the program to more school children across NSW.

 300,000 public school students have been offered the Primary School Mobile Dental Program since it began in 2019 with three local health districts added to the program in 2023.

New districts added include Far West, Northern NSW and Illawarra Shoalhaven LHDs which have collectively visited 38 schools, providing checks for almost 2,400 kids since being added to the program last year.

The mobile dental clinics visit participating primary schools across eleven Local Health Districts and provide on-site dental check-ups, cleans, x-rays and other preventive treatments, as well as education on good oral hygiene practices.

This initiative not only addresses immediate dental needs but also equips children with the knowledge to maintain their oral health.If a child needs follow-up dental care, public dental service staff will contact parents and carers to discuss options for treatment, which may include further treatment at the school or a local dental clinic.

In addition to the Primary School Mobile Dental Program, all children under 18 years of age can access free dental care provided by NSW Health at public dental clinics.

This is part of the NSW Government’s plan to build a better NSW and ensure people have access to the essential services like education and healthcare that they rely on.For more information, visit: www.health.nsw.gov.au/oralhealth

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said: “It is fantastic to see that the dental van has made 1,000 visits to public schools across NSW, offering free check-ups to many public school students. Providing free dental care is a win-win for parents, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.“The dental van is a fantastic program, that has given thousands of students access to free dental care, and helped public school students to learn healthy habits from an early age.”