Kia ora, Talofa lava, Mālō e leilei, Kia orāna, Bula, Fakaalofa lahi atu, seasonal greetings to our community
The Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) extends its heartfelt gratitude to our communities for their support this year as we have worked diligently to provide dental services for children throughout the greater Auckland region.
Please note that ARDS clinics will be closed for the following dates for the Christmas and New Year holiday season:
- Wednesday 24 December 2025 Christmas Eve Closed
- Thursday 25 December 2025 Christmas Day Closed Public Holiday
- Friday 26 December 2024 Boxing Day Closed Public Holiday
- Monday 29th December to Wed 31st December Reduced service (see below)
- Thursday 1 January 2026 New Year’s Day Closed Public Holiday
- Friday 2 January 2026 Day After New Year’s day Closed Public Holiday
- Monday 5 January 2026 Closed
Normal clinic operations will resume on Tuesday, 6 January 2026
Most ARDS clinics will also be closed on 29, 30, and 31 December 2025. However, the following six clinics will remain open to address any urgent dental needs for our children.
- Westgate Children’s Community Dental Clinic 09 832 2116
- Royal Oak Int Children’s Community Dental Clinic 09 634 3216
- Chapel Children’s Community Dental Clinic 09 274 7203
- Browns Road Children’s Community Dental Clinic 09 264 0047
- Papakura Children’s Community Dental Clinic 09 299 8112
- Pukekohe Int Children’s Community Dental Clinic 09 237 1070
If you have any urgent dental needs while our clinics are closed, please contact your nearest dentist to inquire if they are contracted to provide free emergency care for children. Alternatively, you can seek medical care for urgent dental issues through your GP or family doctor or visit an emergency medical practice. For free 24-hour advice on handling a dental emergency, call Healthline at 0800 611 116.
To promote good dental health for your child, we recommend that all families encourage tamariki/children to drink water and plain milk only, brush their teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste and limit sugary foods as much as possible. Our website has more information on key oral health messages for different age groups.
Thank you for your understanding during this time. We wish you and your whānau/family a happy and relaxing holiday break.
The Auckland Regional Dental Service.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s dental needs, please contact us on 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583) to speak with one of our staff.
Free Dental Services for Children Living in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland):
The Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) is funded to provide free general dental care from birth until the end of school Year 8 for eligible children in the Auckland Region. Following this, eligible tamariki from school year 9 are transferred to the Adolescent services to continue free dental care until their 18th birthday.
Based on clinically assessed dental risk level, your child will be provided a recall of 6, 12 or 18 months. Our dental/oral health therapists will provide your child’s clinical oral health care. Should your child require specific dental treatment that our therapists have assessed as being unable to provide, a referral to a contracting dentist for free treatment may be provided. Please note that if sedation is required, there may be costs associated with this.
Due to the high demand for our services, dental appointments outside a child’s recall will only be provided based on the child’s dental needs as assessed by one of our therapists. ARDS is not able to offer appointments for routine cleaning and scaling and/or orthodontic-related extractions.
Good dental health for your child starts in the home:
Most oral health conditions are largely preventable. We recommend all whānau/families support their tamariki with twice-a-day tooth brushing using fluoride toothpaste and limiting sugary food and drinks as best you can.
After-Hours Emergency Dental Access:
For urgent dental treatment needs outside of our normal operating hours, please contact your nearest dentist and ask if they are contracted to offer free emergency after-hours care for children.
Alternatively, medical care in relation to an urgent dental condition can be accessed through your GP/family doctor or an emergency medical practice. Free 24-hour advice on what to do in a dental emergency is also accessible through Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Please click here for Dental Trauma First Aid poster for your information.
The Auckland Regional Dental Service (Children’s Community Dental Service).