Talking teeth for tamariki
Marie Tata is a people person and is
passionate about improving the health of
tamariki. Behind the scenes she is part of
a team working to boost the number of pre-
schoolers being enrolled for
free dental health services.
For a long time the BOPDHB has
struggled to reach its pre-schoolers
enrolment target, records showed
about 1800 Māori pre-schoolers
were missing. Since Marie and the
team has been on the job there has
been a vast improvement. Latest data
shows 75.7% of Māori pre-schoolers
are enrolled for free dental care
compared with 58.6% in March 2017.
Marie says there’s nothing too
complex about what they’re doing.
“I phone, text, make contact through Facebook messaging
and if I know the whānau will ring the
Nani or whomever to track down the
caregiver.”
Exercise Wisdom Tooth saw the 25-member NZDF team providing dental
treatment at a temporary clinic set up in the town over two weeks.
The NZDF contingent had a mix of Regular Force personnel and reservists,
including up to six dentists, four dental hygienists, eight dental assistants and
a physical training Instructor.
Amongst the contingent of Army reserves were BOPDHB Community Dental
Oral Health Therapist Timmy Reiber and Dental Assistant Elle Lloyd. Lieutenant
Reiber and Private Lloyd are Army reserves outside of their day jobs.
“The NZDF engages regularly in community outreach activities in New
Zealand and the southwest Pacifi c region,” says Warrant Offi cer Class 2 Ross
Heald, who led the team.
“An important part of our training is practising
delivery of treatment in a fi eld environment. This is
what we do on operations such as when we deploy to
the Pacifi c as part of a humanitarian aid response.”
The NZDF ran a similar programme in Kaitaia
four years ago, and does so as part of its regular
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises
in the southwest Pacifi c.
Private Elle Lloyd
(BOPDHB Dental
Assistant) on her fi rst
NZDF exercise since
joining the troops late
last year.
Lieutenant Timmy Reiber (BOPDHB Dental Oral Health
Therapist) talks to schoolchildren about the importance of
maintaining good oral health, a healthy diet and exercise.
Marie is based within the Good to
Great Team in Māori Health Gain and
Development working closely with the
Community Health 4 Kids team.
Marie Tata is one of the faces behind the scene
helping tamariki to enrol for free dental care.
Marie says knowing the whakapapa connections coupled
with her connections with Hauora across the Bay of Plenty
has stood her in good stead.
Free dental care was provided in the Eastern Bay township of
Taneatua recently in a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)
exercise with BOPDHB and Tuhoe iwi.
More than 500 tamariki have been enrolled for free dental
care through Marie and the team’s
work. And it’s emerged that a further
400 tamariki have left the region.
“I haven’t come across anyone yet
who doesn’t want their child to be
enrolled for free dental checks. What
I’m hearing from people is it can be
diffi cult to get to the mobile dental
clinics. Some don’t have a vehicle or
it’s at work with their partner. They
may live rurally. And there are also
transport costs to consider.”
“When I joined the team in August
last year, I was given a long list of names to get through
and there were several numbers for each person. It was
a bit daunting. But then I realised I recognised some of
the names or knew their extended whānau, that made a
difference.”
War on tooth decay
in the Bay
saying the person’s name correctly, and that of their child.
There are so many different ways to spell names. You’ve got
to get the pronunciation right. It makes a big difference to
how receptive they are and how the conversation goes. I like
to get it spot on.”
Marie estimates she makes 60 calls
each day.
“Everybody’s got their own story,
I’m not judgemental it’s important.
The biggest thing I concentrate on is
my approach to the conversation and
“I hear stories about tamariki having operations to get their
teeth removed before they even start school. I’m a Nani,
I’ve got mokopuna, it’s heart breaking when you think of the
pain those little kids must have suffered.”
Healthy baby teeth are important, not only for chewing food
- they contribute to self-esteem, confi dence, appearance
and proper speech. The baby teeth also hold spaces for, and
guide the position of adult teeth.
If baby teeth are removed ahead of their natural time to fall
out, space for the adult teeth may be lost.
Even if your baby has no teeth, it’s a good idea to enrol your
child, setting them on a path for good oral health for life.
Phone 0800 TALKTEETH (0800 825 583) or 0800 935
5543 to make an appointment to have your child’s teeth
checked. For more details see www.bopdhb.govt.nz and
search Talk Teeth.
Bay of Plenty DHB receives
clinical campus status
The success of the
BOPDHB as a teaching
and research facility
for the University of
Auckland’s Faculty of
Medical and Health
Sciences has resulted in
it offi cially becoming a
Clinical Campus.
This makes it the fi fth such
campus in New Zealand and
only the second outside of
A uckland.
Distinguished Professor
Ian Reid, Deputy Dean of the
Faculty, says this recognises the
major contribution the BOPDHB
makes to our clinical training,
the excellence of the staff, and
the outstanding teaching they
are able to provide.
Head of the BOPDHB Clinical
School Professor Peter Gilling
has been appointed to the
new role of Assistant Dean Bay
of Plenty, as a result of the
change.
year-long placements, alongside
students from other health
programmes including nursing,
pharmacy, and dietetics.
Considered one of New
Zealand’s most knowledgeable
and experienced doctors,
Professor Gilling has helped to
oversee the steady expansion
of the University’s specialist
training hub in the Bay of Plenty
over the past eight years.
“We are very pleased to
have achieved this milestone
in our development and are
looking forward to increasing
collaboration with the
University. This moves our
relationship to another level,”
he says.
This year, the Bay of Plenty
DHB will welcome 58 University
of Auckland medical students on
Professor Peter Gilling.