Dental care for rangatahi (teens)

Free dental care for eligible rangatahi is provided by dentists, oral health therapists or dental therapists contracted to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.    

Guide to eligibility for public health services - Te Whatu Ora website (external link)

If your rangatahi is at school

Once your rangatahi finishes school Year 8, they will be transferred from the school dental service to a dentist, oral health or dental therapist who provides free dental care for taiohi (teenagers).

The school dental service will get in touch with you with the details. Your rangatahi can choose whether to keep the dentist or therapist or change to another one.

If your rangatahi is not at school

If your rangatahi has left school, they can still get free dental care every year until they are 18. They need to enrol with a dentist, oral health or dental therapist who provides free dental care for rangatahi.

Free standard dental care includes: 

• routine examination to check teeth for decay and look at the gums and mouth for any problems
• x-rays used to find tooth decay and other problems that cannot be seen
• fluoride treatment, which helps make the surface of the teeth more resistant to decay
• fissure sealants, which are a thin layer of white filling, painted onto teeth that are at risk of developing tooth decay
• cleaning plaque, staining and tartar from teeth
• fillings to restore teeth that have been affected by tooth decay
• extractions to remove teeth that have been badly affected by tooth decay.