Oral Health Services
Introducing This Page
This section introduces you to everything related to Oral Health up and down the West Coast.
You can use this page to easily navigate to a topic that interests you, or to access Oral Health documents and recommended websites.
Section Links
What you will find in this Section
You can use the navigation pane on the right to take you to the various pages. To see in greater detail what information our Oral Health Services pages contain you can also use the links below.
Introducing Oral Health Services
The West Coast DHB funds and provides dental services for children and adolescents throughout the West Coast.
The main services provided are:
- Child dental care: free dental care for children from 12 month to Year 8 of school, provided through community and mobile clinics.
- Adolescent dental care: free dental care for teens from Year 9 of school until 18 years of age. Services are predominantly provided by private dentists who are contracted with the WCDHB, services are also provided through mobile clinics in rural areas.
- Hospital dental services: free for children requiring dental treatment under a general anaesthetic that can not be managed in a primary setting. Requires referral through the child dental service.
Services are provided for three different groups ranging from birth to Year 8 of school.
- Pre-school children (0-5 yrs)
- Children aged 5 to Year 8 of school
- Adolescents (from year 9 until their 18th birthday)
Pre-School Dental Services
Free regular check-ups and treatment are available through this service, including topical fluoride varnishes for children at risk of tooth decay. Parents, guardians and whanau are encouraged to enrol their children for regular dental care.
Information about pre-schoolers free dental care is also available through your Well Child/Tamariki Ora Providers. Registration Forms can be obtained by either contacting us directly, or through your Well Child/Tamariki Ora Providers.
You can also request registration forms by calling:
0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583).
Other Useful Website Resources:
-
'Your Oral Health: Infants & Toddlers' provided on the 'Healthy Smiles' website. This contains Frequently Asked Questions for infants and toddlers.
Ministry of Health's websection: Teeth through the ages.
Children aged 5 to Year 8 of school
This service includes children from school Year 1 to school Year 8 and is provided by dental therapists through community and mobile clinics.
Regular check-ups and treatment are provided. Children requiring care beyond the scope of dental therapists will be referred by the service to a private dentist.
For a list of the Service Arrangements by school click here
This service is provided only during school terms. When schools are closed, you can contact a dentist directly for emergency dental care.
For more information about the child dental services, see the Let's Talk Teeth website.
Adolescent Dental Services from school Year 9 until your 18th Birthday
Most teenagers living in NZ are eligible for free dental care until turning 18 years of age - and that is whether you're at school, course, work or unemployed.
During Year 8 your dental therapist will provide a transfer form so you can choose a dentist to provide your dental care from Year 9. This service is provided by dentists and is free until you turn 18 years of age.
You can choose to stay with your dental therapist, which can be handy if you live in a rural area, and would have to travel to see the dentist. Adolescents requiring care beyond the scope of dental therapists will be referred by the service to a private dentist.
If you are not enrolled with a dentist during Year 8, you can enrol at any time before turning 18 by contacting a dentist who provides the teen dental service (for your convenience a listing of West Coast Dentists and Dental Therapists providing free dental care for adolescents has been provided in the table below).
West Coast Dentists and Dental Therapists Providing Free Dental Care for Adolescents
| Westport | Karamea | Reefton |
Westport Dental Clinic | Robyn Murray | Ann Christie |
| Greymouth | ||
Family Dental Centre | Dr Garry Rae | Greymouth Dental Centre |
| Hokitika | Harihari | |
Hokitika Dental Surgery | Sue Allen |
|
More information...
For more information about the free dental services for teens see the Ministry of Health website: www.letstalkteeth.co.nz and/or the Free Dental Care for Teens web-section provided by the Canterbury DHB.
or call our toll free number:
0800-TALK TEETH
0800-825 583
Documents
The following are documents with information you might find useful.
- Good Oral Health for All, for Life
The Strategic Vision for Oral Health in New Zealand
[PDF document, size: 178 KB]
Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Teeth friendly snacks
(Taken from Ministry of Health's
Let's Talk Teeth website)
- Bread
- Cheese
- Raw vegetables
- Unsweetened & unsalted popcorn
- Nuts
- Yoghurt
A glass of something
Get your child to drink a glass of water after having a sweet drink. Even though diet drinks do not contain sugar, if they are acidic, like a diet cola, they can cause erosion of your child's teeth. The best drinks for your child's teeth are water and milk.
Most other drinks have sugar in them, although in some drinks, the sweetness is from natural sugar, like in pure fruit juice. Save sweet drinks for mealtimes (if at all), and use a straw. Encourage your child to choose water - it's fresh and free!
Recommended Websites/Webresources
The following are documents with information you might find useful.
- Let's Talk Teeth (booklet)
- Media Release: "Urgent action to improve oral health"
- Oral Health - Health Education Resources
(Useful oral health education resources for parents)
- Healthy Smiles
(This is the New Zealand Dental Association website for the public, students, teachers, health professionals and the media.)
- Your Oral Health
Parents will find this section on "Your Oral Health" very useful as this section provides common dental problems, treatments and oral health care information.
- Let's Talk Teeth - Kids Zone
Very simple and fun interactive animated website dedicated to educate kids in matters how to brush, prevent tooth-decay (D.K.) and look after their teeth.
- Healthy Food, Healthy Teeth
Provides useful nutrition tips to ensure teeth become and stay healthy (including teeth-friendly snacks).
