A range of basic preventive, treatment and specialist dental services are available to eligible children and provided by the Ministry of Health to schools through the Community Dental Service (see notice at end re holiday care).

General Information

Dental education, preventive and basic treatment services are provided free of charge to pre-school and primary school age children through the Community Oral Health Service. Parents can enrol their children directly or referrals can be made by Well Child providers or general practitioners.

Dental therapists provide most services and dentists provide more specialised treatment if necessary. Dental assessments and treatments usually take place in community-based clinics, often located on school sites, or in mobile dental units. Some treatments are not free, such as orthodontics (including braces, for example).

Contact 0800 TALKTEETH (0800 825 583) for enrolment information.

Dental Care during the School Holidays

The Community Dental Service will be providing dental care for children enrolled with our service during the upcoming school holidays. The clinics will offer treatment and relief of pain sessions by appointment only. To make an appointment please contact our Call Centre which operates between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday throughout the year.

The following Dental Clinics will be open during these school holidays:

· Northcote Clinic, 24 Tuckers Road, Casebrook

· Hillmorton Clinic, Hillmorton Hospital, Sylvan Street,

· Ashburton Clinic, 38 Elizabeth Street, Ashburton

· Timaru Clinic, Level 1, 18 Woollcombe Street, Timaru

The clinics will offer appointments between 8.45am and 3.00pm for school-age and preschool children requiring treatment.

If your child has dental pain as a result of an accident please contact your dentist in the first instance.

To book an appointment at one of our clinics please: call 0800 846 983

Or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz