Gauteng health MEC Brian Hlongwa gave over R1,8million worth of mobile dental clinics to treat dental caries caused by decades of water fluoridation in the Odi District.

The mobile clinics are equipped with drilling and X-ray machines, dental chairs and lights, water tanks and generators.

At an event held in Mabopane yesterday, Hlongwa said the mobile clinics would bring the number already in the province to 13. He said the aim was to ensure patients in areas where there were no fixed dental clinics also received assessments and treatment.

Children especially will benefit from these mobile clinics as they will visit schools in the area to assist those with dental problems. Hlongwa said the number of 6-year-old children in Gauteng with dental caries requiring treatment is nearly 60percent.

“Prevalence of this dental problem is supposed to decrease after the age of 12. However, in Gauteng the number of 15-year-old children with dental caries is double that of 12 year-olds. The Odi sub-district for example, is still reeling from the after effects of water fluoridation which compounded the prevalence of dental caries among children. Failure to prevent and treat this condition has resulted in a high number of people with preventable oral health conditions,” he said.

Two of these mobile dental clinics are going to service Diepsloot and Poortjie.

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