DENTAL patients will soon have plenty more reasons to smile as services across Tamworth and the region are poised to be given a healthy boost.
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For most of this year, dentists in the public hospital system have been as rare as hen's teeth – particularly at Tamworth Base Hospital.
They have been searching far and wide to find a replacement for Dr Murray Bradford, who retired earlier this year at the age of 80.
But a successor has been found and the future is looking even brighter.
New England Area Health Service's clinical manager for oral health services Dr John Powers performs a clinical role at Tamworth Base Hospital, but also travels across the region to lend a hand.
Children are eligible for treatment at hospital dental clinics and adults on a pension or with a health care concession card are also able to take advantage of the service, provided they have a Medicare card.
"There are no NSW Health dentists in Glen Innes and Inverell, so I go up there on a regular basis," Dr Powers said.
"I've travelled 56,000km since I started work up here in September last year - I think that speaks for itself."
Dr Powers said Tamworth Base Hospital was fortunate to have secured a short-term locum as efforts were made to recruit a new dentist.
And a permanent replacement has been found – Dr Ayu Abdullah, a senior dentist from Malaysia. Dr Powers said she and her family have had their bags packed for several months, waiting for their visas to be approved.
"We are optimistic that the final immigration approvals will soon be issued that will allow Dr Abdullah to come to Australia with her husband and three children (in) the next few weeks," he said.
"We even have a house on hold for them to live in when they arrive. It's that close."
Dr Powers said the dental voucher system introduced by the area health service two years ago had been a saving grace for dental services in the region.
"I am very appreciative of the efforts of several private dentists who have taken on some of our more urgent patients on a voucher system," he said.
"And we are very grateful to Dr Paul Rizzuto from Gunnedah who has been able to come across to help as well."
Dr Powers said he was not only optimistic, but excited about the future of dental services across the region.
The area health service's oral health unit has been working on new dental service plans, due to be released early next year.
These plans include the introduction of three scholarships for new dental graduates.
"We have a bumper crop of graduating dentists completing their training this year and some of the last group have already expressed interest in returning here to work," he said.
"Things should be looking up for dental services in the very near future."