Recommendation 1: That a survey be undertaken of dental health in the Kimberley and that a plan and program be established to address dental health needs.
Recommendation 2: That the State Government make a greater effort to put fluoride into the water supplies in the Aboriginal communities of the Kimberley to aid in the prevention of dental caries.
Recommendation 3: That supplementary fluoride programs, in the absence of water fluoridation, be implemented in all schools in the Kimberley.
Recommendation 4: That dental health education programs aimed at preventing dental disease be implemented immediately. The programs should include dental health instruction and daily brushing.
Recommendation 5: That the Health Department of Western Australia expand existing school and community based health education programs to incorporate dental health education programs.
Recommendation 6: That the State fund and implement a tooth brushing program in all schools in the Kimberley.
Recommendation 7: That State and local governments encourage community stores to adopt schemes to reduce costs and increase the range of nutritious foods stocked in order to help improve the dental and general health of the community.
Recommendation 8: That the Health Department of Western Australia and the Ministry of Education review the tooth brushing program and store policy at Yakanarra Community to see how they can be effectively promoted and implemented throughout the Kimberley.
Recommendation 9: That an up-to-date dental facility be established in the new Halls Creek District Hospital.
Recommendation 10: That the Health Department of Western Australia establish ‘dental centres’ in key Aboriginal communities to house dental equipment to be used by visiting dental health staff.
Recommendation 11: That the Health Department of Western Australia examine the feasibility of establishing a dedicated short-term locum employment position in the Kimberley for dentists.
Recommendation 12: That each of the larger communities in the Kimberley have access to an Aboriginal Health Worker, trained to provide dental health education.
Recommendation 13: That the Health Department of Western Australia undertake a feasibility study into short-term vocational placements of final year dentistry students and first year dentists in the Kimberley.
Recommendation 14: That the Health Department of Western Australia undertake a review of the role of dental auxiliaries (therapists and nurses) in providing dental health services in remote areas of Western Australia, similar to the Remote Area Nurse Practitioner Project.