Children
Free dental care to children from birth through to the end of school year 8 (second year of intermediate school).
Babies till year 8
Children are eligible for free dental visits starting from birth.
All babies will be offered their first appointment before their teeth appear. This ensures that by the time their teeth arrive, the family/whānau is equipped with the knowledge to care for them.
Taking care of baby teeth is crucial, as decay can impact a child's ability to eat, speak, and develop, and may even affect their adult teeth.
Free basic dental care is available at all our locations, including both the mobile dental clinics and the community dental clinic.
Basic dental care includes:
- A check up.
- Oral health advice and encouragement for good oral health.
- Examination and dental X-rays, if necessary.
- Preventative treatment, such as topical fluoride and fissure sealants (coatings).
- Restorations (fillings, crowns) and extractions
- Children requiring treatment that cannot be provided by the Community Oral Health Service are referred to a private dentist.
- Orthodontic treatment (straightening of teeth using braces) is not funded or provided by the Community Oral Health Service.
The Wairarapa Oral Health service provides care to children in our region either through the Mobile Dental Units that visit their schools or by appointments at our Community Dental Clinic.
Adolescents
Free dental care for adolescents from the beginning of year 9 (first year of high school) until their 18th birthday.
FREE DENTAL CARE FOR ADOLESCENTS
Practices contracted to provide the free dental care for adolescents:
Wongs, Lumino, Grace, True Dentistry, Park Rd and Greytown.
Click here for details Dentists for Adolescents
All rangatahi/youth are entitled to free routine dental care from Year 9 through till their 18th birthday whether they are at school, on a training course, working or unemployed.
Students are usually enrolled through Year 8, or if having moved into the area can enrol directly with one of these dentists.
How does it usually work? Learn more about Year 8 enrolment.
At the completion of Year 8, all children are transferred from the Community Dental Clinic to the community-based dental practice of the family’s choice.
Most dental practices throughout the Wairarapa provide free dental care under the adolescent dental programme so you can choose a dentist that best meets your needs. A form will be sent home with your child for you to fill in, so you can let us know where you would like them to attend. Once they have reached college age, if you have any queries about your adolescents teeth, ring your dentist. If you can't remember where your adolescent is enrolled, you can contact the adolescent coordinator or ring any of the listed dentists throughout the Wairarapa to re-enrol or book an appointment for your teenager.
Please find dentists in other locations here:
Have you moved into the Wairarapa during Years 9 – 13?
Download this form and take it to your dental practice to register with an approved dentist, named above.
https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Our-health-system/Claims-provider-payments-and-entitlements/Dental-claims/Enrolment-for-adolescent-oral-health-services.pdf
Please get in touch with Rachel, the adolescent coordinator and she will help to get your college-age student(s) enrolled. Phone (027) 272 9703 or email Rachel.clarke@wairarapa.dhb.org.nz
Rachel is available one day a week, she will respond as able.
