smile squad – brighter smiles and better oral health

cohealth is proud to partner with the Victorian State Government to help deliver the Smile Squad dental care program. Smile Squad is a Victorian Government program that provides free access to dental care to all Victorian public primary and secondary school students.

“1 in 5 children have cavities from poor oral care,” says Ashley Hind, Oral Health Leader at cohealth. “It’s more prevalent that asthma, so encouraging children to look after themselves from an early age will reduce the demand for oral health care later in life.”

The Smile Squad vans provide free check-ups and treatment to all students in Victorian public schools, including teeth cleaning, fluoride application, fissure sealants, fillings, root canals and any other non-cosmetic treatments to ensure kids have healthy teeth.

“More people are receiving oral health care which means there will be better long term health outcomes for our local communities,” says Ashley Hind.

The $321.9 million in funding over four years for the School Dental Program will also take off pressure in delivering oral healthcare to adults.

“The current waiting list for adult’s oral health care is approximately 36 months, so anything we can do to reduce that is good.”

More information about the program can be found at smilesquad.vic.gov.au