MONTHS of fundraising has finally borne fruit for the St Patrick’s Community Support Centre, who officially opened their new oral health clinic last week.
Catering to an urgent need for dental care among many of Fremantle’s less fortunate, St Patrick’s new volunteer-run clinic will offer a range of free treatments including tooth extractions, restorations, scale and cleans and fluoride applications.
St Patrick’s chief executive Steve McDermott said they noticed a big need for oral healthcare among Fremantle’s homeless.
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READ NOW“Dental care can be very expensive and so it’s often one of the first parts of a comprehensive healthcare regimen to be neglected,” he said.
“We also knew that because of their mistrust or discomfort with unfamiliar clinical environments, it would be a real asset if we could offer that service in a place that they know and trust.
“Poor oral health can lead to very serious health outcomes, left untreated these issues can eventually lead to hospitalization, and already our dental team has conducted several emergency tooth extractions, alleviating chronic pain for those clients.”
Once fully operational, the clinic will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 2pm at the St Patrick’s Community Support Centre on Queen Victoria Street.
They are also looking for more dental professionals or students to volunteer, including dental hygienists, nurses and dentists.
Email dmcleod@stpats.com.au for more information on how to volunteer.