Publicly Funded Services

Free basic dental care is available for all New Zealand children and teenagers up to 18 years of age.

Child Dental Care

Free dental care is provided to all children- from birth to Year 8 schooling- at the school or community dental clinics.  Dental therapists provide dental examinations, fillings, extraction of primary teeth, applications of fluorides, placement of fissure sealants and, oral health education and promotion. For care beyond the scope of dental therapy practice children are referred to an appropriate contracting dental practitioner.

Special Dental Benefit Scheme for Children

This scheme covers the free care provided by contracting dentists following a referral from a dental therapist. This also covers the emergency treatment provided by dentists outside the hours of school dental clinic. However it is important that you check with the dentist if he/she is providing care for children under this scheme. If not, you need to pay for the treatment at your own expense or find a dentist who treats children under this scheme.

Adolescent Dental Care

Adolescents are eligible for free basic dental care from school Year 9 until their 18th birthday. This service is provided by private dentists that are contracted by district health boards under Combined Dental Agreement.

To find out more about this free service including the names of contracted dentist who provide this free care please ring the toll free number 0800 ITS FREE / 0800 487 3733, unless you are in Northland where you can ring (09) 470 0000 ext 3306.

Hospital Dental Care

Hospitals provide specialist services for those patients suffering from oral conditions that require specialised knowledge and facilities. This includes acute trauma and medically compromised individuals. They also provide dental care under general anaesthesia for children and special needs patients that are referred by other dental and medical practitioners. Patients can contact the hospital dental units directly for relief of pain and low income services.

Adult Dental Care

Dental departments at most public hospitals provide a limited service for patients who cannot access care from private practices due to their financial status. To access this service they must hold an existing Community Services Card and may also need to pay part of the charges for their treatment.

Private Dental Care

The majority of New Zealanders are treated by private dental practitioners. Those who access private dental care are expected to pay for their treatment at their own expense. There is no fixed or recommended fee structure for private practices. Dental practices set their fees based on factors such as the location and facilities that are available at the practice, and whether it is a specialist or general dental practice. Private practices offer wider choice of treatments and flexible appointment times. Some treatments such as orthodontics, implants and tooth whitening are only available in private practices and not at hospital dental departments.