Decay slayer helps Childers area dental health

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Decay slayer: In the last financial year, Childers dentist Dr Brett Phillips has provided up to $300 worth of dental care free of charge to 25 patients.
In the last financial year, Childers dentist Dr Brett Phillips has provided up to $300 worth of dental care free of charge to 25 patients.

A Childers decay slayer dentist has helped the community's dental health after providing 25 people with free dental care in the past financial year.

Dr Brett Phillips was able to offer his service free to the community after applying for the Sunsuper Dreams for a Better World grant.

Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey congratulated Dr Phillips on his initiative.

“I was pleased to support Brett's application to Sunsuper and I'm really delighted to see this positive initiative succeed in improving people's dental health,” Mayor Dempsey said.

Sunsuper supports decay slayer

Sunsuper's Dreams for a Better World partners with the visions of Australians and local initiatives to dream big and do good.

Community groups, not-for-profit organisations and now small businesses can apply to win a share of $150,000 in grants to help make the world a better place.

Dr Brett Phillips, who operates The Decay Slayer surgery in Childers, said he received a total of $7,500 in funding to support his cause.

“I really wanted to help people; to extend the olive branch to those who were doing it tough but still trying to do so much for the community,” he said.

“My application outlined that if I was successful in obtaining the grant, I would provide $300 worth of dental care to 15 people.

“We received $5000 first and then a further $2500 so I was able to treat 25 people.”

Dr Phillips said of the patients he treated, each ranged in age and had varying dental problems that needed addressing.

“We chose various people from all around the region,” he said.

“We had a single mother from Howard, some small business people, pensioners, children and more.”

Decay Slayer Dr Phillips said he chose to focus on providing free dental care as part of his grant submission due to the rising number in dental health problems within the region.

“The fact is over 30 per cent of rural people have untreated decay and four out of five children have dental decay,” he said

“We have such a huge dental problem in the area and I wanted to help any way I could.”