On World Oral Health Day, the Western Australian Government celebrated the 50th anniversary of its School Dental Service (SDS), highlighting significant improvements in children’s dental health and unveiling a new initiative focused on early childhood prevention.
Since its inception, the SDS has drastically reduced dental issues in children. The number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth in 12-year-olds has dropped by approximately seven times compared to when the program began.
The service operates through a network of state-funded Dental Therapy Centres (DTCs) staffed by dental and oral health therapists, dental assistants, and visiting dentists. Each year, the program provides dental care to over 110,000 students across the state.
Currently, 140 fixed DTCs are located in schools throughout Western Australia, supplemented by 25 mobile units that serve around 140 smaller schools.
To enhance preventive care, the Cook Government has introduced the Smiling Starts Early Childhood Dental Program. This initiative aims to prevent tooth decay in children under five, ensuring that they enter school with better oral health.
As part of the program, dental clinic assistants are being trained to apply fluoride varnish, a protective treatment that helps prevent cavities. This training aligns with the broader focus on early education in oral hygiene and preventive health.
The Smiling Starts program also offers free oral health screenings, educational resources, and preventive services to young children and their families.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat praised the milestone as a testament to decades of work improving oral health outcomes for Western Australians. She called Smiling Starts the “next chapter” in dental care, extending services to younger children and addressing early gaps in care. Hammat pointed out that one in three children aged five to six still experience tooth decay when they start school.
The first cohort of eight dental assistants has completed nationally recognized training to support the initiative, enhancing protection for children at risk.
Acting Preventative Health Minister Jackie Jarvis emphasized that providing fluoride treatments outside traditional clinical settings would improve access and create positive early dental experiences for children. She also noted that the initiative positions Western Australia as a leader in preventive dental health.