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Oral health services / Dental services
Division: Oral health services

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Acute dental problems during COVID-19 Alert Level 4

There are significant restrictions on the types of dental treatment that are able to be provided while the Covid-19 virus poses a threat.

Anyone with an acute dental problem in Canterbury or the West Coast can phone 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz (8am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri) for assistance.

After your call, a dentist or dental therapist will make contact to determine what treatment is needed and make appropriate arrangements. 

The Canterbury DHB’s dental department provides specialist dental care to people in the Canterbury region. Please note: It is also a tertiary referral centre for the West Coast and Nelson and Marlborough regions.

 

Kids’ and teenagers’ teeth

West Coast DHB funds and provides tooth care services for children and adolescents, including examinations, x-rays, fillings and extractions.

  • Child dental care: Free for children 12 months old up until school Year 8. Provided through community and mobile clinics.
  • Adolescent dental care: Free for teens from Year 9 until 18 years old. Mostly provided by private dentists and paid for by West Coast DHB. Mobile clinics provide this service in rural areas.
  • Hospital dental services: Free for children needing dental treatment under general anaesthetic. Requires referral through the child dental service.

Kids younger than 5 get free regular check-ups and treatment. This service includes fluoride varnishes to protect teeth at risk of decay.

We encourage parents, guardians and whānau to enrol their children for regular dental care. Get a registration form by contacting us directly, or talking to your Well Child Tamariki Ora provider.

You can also request registration forms by calling 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583) or 03 769 7710.

Dental therapists provide free check-ups to primary and intermediate-aged school children through community and mobile clinics. If your child needs more advanced dental work, the therapist will refer them to a private dentist.

This service is provided during school terms. When schools are closed you can contact a dentist directly.

For more information call
0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583) or 03 769 7710.

Most teenagers are eligible for free dental care until their 18th birthday – regardless of whether you are at school, working, or unemployed.

You can choose a dentist from the list below, or you can stay with the dental therapist you saw at primary or intermediate school. This can be useful for people who have to travel a long way to see a dentist.

 

West Coast dentists and dental therapists providing free care for adolescents

Greymouth

Family Dental Centre
38 Albert Mall
03 768 6243

Lumino The Dentists
140 Mackay St
03 768 6716

Greymouth Dental Centre
28 Guinness St
03 768 7418

Greymouth, Cobden, and Grey Valley

Raewyn McLeod, Dental Therapist
0800 825 583
After hours 027 237 0029

Westport

Westport Dental Clinic, Mothusi Motswasele
141 Palmerston St
03 789 8901
After hours 0800 825 583

Buller and Reefton

Robyn Murray, Dental Therapist
0800 825 583
After hours 0800 825 583

Hokitika and Westland

Sue Allen, Dental Therapist
0800 825 583
After hours 027 451 6381

Page last updated: 5 August 2020

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