AN outraged mother says Queensland Health's decision to can dental van visits to Cairns high schools is another kick in the teeth for Far Northerners.

Changes to the school's oral health service last year meant eligible high school students would not be visited by the dental van at their school but would instead have to make an appointment at a clinic or community health centre.

Primary school students would still be able to have examinations at their school but any treatment, including fillings or extractions, would have to be done at fixed clinics at Edmonton and Smithfield community health centres, Balaclava, Edge Hill, Cairns West and Parramatta school dental clinics.

"I'm disgusted," mother-of-two high school students Sasha Beaumont told The Cairns Post.

"Once again the people of the Far North are missing out."

Ms Beaumont said she received a letter from Queensland Health recently alerting her to the change in services.

Cairns oral health director Dr Robyn Boase said the change, in early 2007, was made to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the services.

"Staff believe the new system will result in better oral health as they can positively involve parents by addressing diet and oral hygiene issues at home," Dr Boase said.

"It is also easier for staff to meet increasingly stringent control standards in a fixed clinic."

Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the new system would allow more frequent visits to schools for check ups to be undertaken.

"It's recognised nationally that Queensland provides the most comprehensive free public dental service in Australia to school-aged children and eligible adults," Mr Robertson said.

Dental examinations and treatment services will continue at high-risk schools and more distant centres such as Yarrabah, Kuranda, Mossman, Cooktown, Wujal Wujal, Hope Vale, Djarragun and Cape York communities.

Early last year, The Cairns Post revealed schools were waiting for up to two years for a visit by the dental van because of staffing problems. However, Dr Boase said recruitment and retention of staff had improved and a full quota of school dental therapists was on board this year.

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