Commonwealth Games Dental Clinic open for business

The dental clinic which forms part of the Polyclinic providing health services at the Games Village in Parkville, opened for business yesterday. Their first patient was from Barbados, and required treatment for a fractured central incisor.

There are around 4500 athletes and 1500 officials from 71 countries participating in the Commonwealth Games, and they are all entitled to make use of 'emergency' treatment facilities offered by the Polyclinic. As each patient attends they are invited to place a red sticker on a map of the world indicating their country of origin.

A roster compising 15 volunteer dentists plus six nursing and other support staff will provide dental services in one of the new Dental Health Services Victoria mobile vans, which has been installed adjacent to the main Polyclinic in the Athletes' Village.

Dr Peter Hays has been the key liaison person between the profession and the Games Secretariat over the past year, and he has worked with Dental Logistics to ensure that the van is equipped with all requisite materials and equipment to be able to provide the expected services. While most of the volunteers are Victorians, the roster includes a number of dentists from other States.

The Games may not begin for another 9 days, but the Village is fully occupied with athletes and others who may require treatment, just like any other small community.

The ADAVB extends its thanks and appreciation to all those who have assisted with arrangements by which dental services can be made available to the Commonwealth Games community over the coming weeks.