Smiles on the truck
15 . 02 . 2025
Article by Isabella MacDonald, courtesy of Goondiwindi Argus
A dental truck sponsored by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and Senex energy has landed in Wandoan and soon to be Theodore communities to provide much needed free dental services.
According to research from the Australian Dental Association (ADA), two-thirds of Australians skip their annual dental visits due to concerns over cost. As many as 63 percent of respondents mentioned that high prices were the main reason for putting off dental care.
The initiative was introduced to grow and supplement access to high quality health services for Senex’s operating communities, recognising access to oral health services were missing from regional healthcare.
Darren Stevenson, Senex energy Chief Executive Officer backs the initiative and understands the lack of accessibility to medical services in regional areas and how it can play a detrimental role in both physical and mental health.
“Accessing dental services in rural communities can be difficult with suitable care sometimes hours away. By bringing the free RFDS Dental Truck to Wandoan and Theodore, Senex is removing barriers to accessing high quality specialist oral care, ” Mr Stevenson said.
Senex and RFDS have had a long spanning partnership of more than 12 years and have been partnered and supporting the dental truck since 2023.
The RFDS Dental Truck is a full-equipped mobile dental surgery, staffed by qualified dentists and dental assistants who provide a wide range of services direct from the mobile unit. This includes, Oral health maintenance, X-rays and extractions, treatment for acute or pre-existing conditions, treatment for gum disease and referral to specialist dental services.
Last year, the dental truck spent 13 days in Wandoan and 16 days in Theodore and during this short time a third of Wandoan and Theodore populations were treated.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service team is also visiting Wandoan State School students to teach them about oral hygiene.
Vanessa Huddy, a Wandoan local praised Senex and RFDS for the dental truck for bringing this essential service to rural towns that need it the most.
“The quality of the dental is second to none,
I’m very scared of the dentist, it was painless, the ladies were so welcoming, it was really good experience,” said Ms Huddy.
This year, the dental truck will provide free services to Wandoan from January 28 to February 8 and to Theodore from 18 February to 27 of February.
