International dentists providing free dental care in Taveuni discovered that schools near shops and canteens reported higher instances of dental decay compared to those further away.
A team of six dentists from New Zealand and Australia, organized by the Rotary Club of Taveuni, visited five schools on the southern part of the island and expressed their shock at the poor dental health conditions among both students and adults.
During their visit, they treated 242 students, 50 adults, performed 45 extractions of permanent teeth due to abscesses, and carried out 823 restorations, along with 1,218 other dental services for various patients.
Rotary volunteer Paul Purvis highlighted that the initiative spanned two weeks and was led by Dr. Gary Lawrence. He noted that this year’s efforts aimed to continue the work started last year, covering many villages and settlements in southern Taveuni.
Purvis mentioned that the team had not visited the area in six years and were alarmed by the deterioration in dental health observed since their last trip in 2018.