Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet ( Jun 05/00) - People in the Kivalliq Region should benefit from the latest development in the war against tooth decay.

The faculty of dentistry at the University of Manitoba has announced it is resuming clinical operations at the Churchill Dental Clinic and expanding its services.

Located in the Churchill hospital complex, the clinic serves about 1,000 Churchill residents and is the referral centre for residents of northern Manitoba and the Kivalliq Region.

Robin Stout is a dental hygienist and member of a health promotions team based in Winnipeg.

Stout is also helping to expand dental services in the Baffin Region.

She says the Churchill clinic will now operate for the entire year, staffed by a full-time dentist, hygienist, assistant and receptionist.

"Dental problems are so high, they've actually been increasing during the past 10 years," says Stout.

"This will allow us to provide more services in our fight against tooth decay and focus on dental health promotion and disease prevention, which has to be community based."

To better meet the needs of patients requiring dental surgery, the Churchill hospital's operating rooms will be committed to dental patients for an average of two weeks per month, an increase from the previous one-week use.

Other specialty services in orthodontics, surgery and children's dentistry are planned for the future.

The Kivalliq Region historically sends an average of about 24 kids per month to Churchill for dental treatment.

Stout says Kivalliq patients are referred to the centre by a dentist.

"Theses services are especially important to kids in the Kivalliq Region who, when visited by travelling dentists, are found to be in need of surgery.

"This usually means extraction of the front teeth and caps placed on the back teeth because they're usually all decayed.

"This is not done in the communities because they don't put kids to sleep there."

Stout says in many cases, kids seen by travelling dentists are too young to sit in the chair to have major work done.

She says the extraction of wisdom teeth are often difficult for patients of any age, and they can also be referred to the centre.

"We see this as more help for patients in the Kivalliq on the road to good dental health.

"In addition to referrals, any one who happens to be in Churchill would also be welcome to come to the clinic, book an appointment and be seen by a dentist there."

The centre will be holding its grand opening on June 29.