The provision of dental and orthodontic services to children in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area is the statutory responsibility of that health authority.
Dental treatment services for children in national schools are being developed in accordance with the dental health action plan. For the past number of years health boards have been progressively adopting a planned targeted approach to the delivery of dental services to national school children and phasing out a demand led system. This is to ensure the optimum use of dental resources and equal access for all national school children to the same level of dental care.
Children in second, fourth and fifth classes are screened for dental treatment through the school health examination. Children who, following the school screening, are found to have serious problems and need more frequent review between school screenings will have this arranged at the local clinic.