Tweed Heads hospital opens new 10-chair public dental clinic

Tweed Heads hospital has opened its impressive new $2.4 million public dental and student clinic within the upgraded Tweed Hospital.

The new facility includes six NSW Health surgeries and four teaching clinics, providing free dental care to children and adolescents up to 18 years of age, as well as eligible Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession cardholders permanently residing in the Northern NSW Local Health District.

The modern facility also acts as a hands-on training clinic for final year dental students from Griffith University (Gold Coast) under the supervision of trained specialists from NSW Health.

Located in a dedicated wing of the upgraded Tweed Hospital, the new dental clinic features 10 A-dec 500 dental units, Acteon X-Mind digital X-ray generators and PSP!X phosphor plate systems, plus the latest A-dec LED stadium style operatory lighting.

The surgeries each feature A-dec Preference dental cabinetry that incorporates pass-through shelving to allow trays to be placed in the cabinets from the corridor without interrupting procedures. In-built round articulating work surfaces, suction and integrated assistants instruments, provide a practical work environment and ergonomic benefits for the entire dental team.

A notable feature is the use of A-dec Preference central divider cabinets housing a shared X-ray unit between adjoining semi open plan surgeries. This allowed more surgeries to be accommodated within the available space compared to traditional walled surgeries and a saving of approximately $40,000 by reducing the number of X-ray generators required.

The large galley style sterilisation room features a purpose-built A-dec Preference Infection Control Centre with in-built task lighting, dedicated storage systems, clearly delineated 'clean' and 'contaminated' work areas and hands-free doors and taps. It is equipped with Lisa B Class bench-top sterilizers and Assistina automated handpiece units.

The equipment was provided by A-dec Australia in conjunction with its local service provider, East Coast Dental Services, which installed the equipment and arranged the compliance of the X-ray equipment.

The new facility was opened by The Hon Jillian Skinner, NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research, together with Kevin Hogan MP, the Federal Member for Page representing the Federal Minister for Health, The Hon Peter Dutton MP.