For many families, guardians, and carers of children with disabilities, and those people that suffer significant dental phobia, the means of accessing regular dental treatment and preventative care may at times be considerably out of reach, both financially and logistically.
When a person is unable to have routine dental treatment completed in a typical setting for any reason such as anxiety, fear, phobia, or communication and learning difficulties, often the only choices available to the individual is a trip to a private hospital or being placed on the States growing wait list for a general anaesthetic. This may need to occur for even the most basic of dental care such as an examination or scale and clean.
Unfortunately, routine dental care in hospitals will often attract very large out of pocket expenses, or years waiting for public treatment. This may invariably lead to a steady decline of the persons oral health and can result in loss of teeth, large and expensive complex treatment plans, pain, an inability to eat properly, and a general decrease in overall general health. It also can have significant effects on a persons self confidence and happiness.
The newly opened Hobart Orofacial Pain and Special Needs Clinic is the first of its kind for Tasmania and has been established especially for children and adults with special needs to provide them with a high level of dental treatment under intravenous (IV) sedation at significantly reduced costs. Those eligible receive all treatment at concessional rates, significantly improving access to dental care for many people in the community.
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