Good oral health for all, for life
Good oral health and hygiene is an important part of general health for the whole family (babies through to older adults). Waitemata DHB supports and funds oral health promotion, education and treatment services. Families are encouraged to enrol their infants with Auckland Regional Dental Services (ARDS) and to ensure their teenagers are also enrolled with the free adolescent service available. Waitemata DHB encourages all adults aged 18 and over to regularly attend local dentists for prevention and maintenance services that keep teeth and mouths healthy. Most adult oral health care is provided by private dental services and is not subsidised. Work and Income NZ does offer low income people support to access oral health care through their grant schemes.
School dental service
For more information about the School Dental Service available for children 0 to Year 8 (Form 2), how to enrol your child at your nearest school dental clinic, and contact details for enquiries, view the ARDS information page.
Adolescent oral health services
An adolescent co-ordination service operates to promote and improve the enrolment of adolescents (from Year 9 up to your child’s 18th birthday) with private dentists following their discharge from the school dental service.
What happens to a child once they reach high school - is it up to them or their parents to get them to the dentist? Is it still free? How will their treatment differ under the new system?
When a child reaches Year 8 they are issued an adolescent dental service enrolment pack by the school dental therapist. The pack contains a transfer to adolescent dental service form, a list of contracting dentists and an information to parent/guardian leaflet. The transfer form has to be completed and returned to the dental therapist with their choice of dentist included.These forms are then returned to the Adolescent Oral Health Coordination Service who process the information and send the details of the child to the dentist. The dentist then enrols the child at their practice. This treatment is free until their 18th birthday. Adolescents can also call 0800 ITS FREE (0800 487 3733) for more information about the service. You can also read more by selecting the 'Adolescent Dental Service' link to the left of this page.
Emergency dental services
Waitemata DHB provides some emergency dental services (relief of pain and infection only) for Community Services Card holders through both hospital and selected community providers. These services incur a patient contribution.
Hospital dental services
In partnership with Auckland DHB, Waitemata DHB provides for a full range of hospital dental services including care for special needs patients, those with medical conditions which necessitate hospital dental care, and specialist dental services such as cleft palate and complex oral care.
Many primary and community services, such as Well Child providers and Primary Health Organisations, also support child oral health with family oral health education and promotion, and by facilitating the enrolment process.
The future of oral health care
You can find out more about child and adolescent oral health services by visiting the Ministry of Health website.