Child Dental Care - Oral Health

Oral Health
Child Dental Care

How to look after your child’s teeth

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day.
Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
Teach your child to, ‘spit don’t rinse’ – rinsing with water washes the fluoride toothpaste off the teeth. Not rinsing after cleaning will improve the caries-protective effect of fluoride toothpaste.
Choose sugar free snacks and drinks.
Ensure your child has regular dental check-ups. The time between your child's dental check-ups will be based on their needs.

Dental care entitlement for children
Children are entitled to free basic dental care from birth to the end of their Year 8 (Form 2) schooling.

Providers of child dental care
Dental therapists are employed by District Health Boards (DHB) or NGO health providers contracted by DHBs, to provide dental services to all children in the birth to Year 8 age group. Dental Therapy practice is a part of the wider practice of dentistry, and is proportionate to a dental therapist's approved education, training and competence.

Some dentists are contracted with their DHB under the Combined Dental Agreement to provide care, and care beyond the scope of practice of the dental therapist for children and emergency dental care. This treatment is usually referred from the dental therapist.

Type of care provided
Dental therapists provide oral health assessment (dental examinations), restorations (fillings) for both primary (baby) and permanent teeth, pulp capping in primary and permanent teeth, extraction of primary teeth, preventive dentistry including the placement of fissure sealants and application of fluorides, oral health education and promotion. Referrals are made to the appropriate practitioner or agency.

Dentists provide a full range of dental care as set out in the Scope of Practice for General Dental Practice.

Limit of free dental care entitlement
The School Dental Service is free to all New Zealand children. If your child is not a New Zealand resident or citizen, check with your local School Dental Service whether your child is eligible for free dental care.

Care provided by a dentist under the Special Dental Benefit Scheme is free. This is provided only if a dental therapist refers your child, or your child requires emergency treatment outside the hours the school dental clinic is open.

Check with your dentist that he/she is providing care under the Special Dental Benefit Scheme. If not, you will be expected to pay for the treatment at your own expense. There is no reimbursement for payment of private costs for dental care.

Treatment such as orthodontics (correction of abnormalities in teeth/ tooth straightening) is not funded by the Government and will be at your own expense.

Tooth coloured fillings
Most School Dental Services use both amalgam and tooth coloured filling materials for dental restorations. White fillings are a more expensive option and are not always the best choice of filling material for some cavities. Policies regarding the use of different types of filling materials reside with each individual District Health Board (DHB).

The Ministry of Health, through the DHB Oral Health Toolkit, provides guidelines for DHBs regarding filling materials, as well as other aspects of dental care. However, these are only guidelines and each DHB is free to determine their own criteria and guidelines for the treatment of patients under their care.

Age at which to enroll your child
From the time babies teeth come through they can start to decay. It is recommended that you enroll your child before their first birthday and thereafter anytime up to the end of their Year 8 schooling.

Early enrolment provides an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s oral health needs with the dental therapist, and to assist you in establishing good homecare practices. Remember, it is never too late to enroll your child.

How to enroll
Contact your local school dental clinic or District Health Board. Alternatively, your family doctor, Plunket nurse or Well Child Provider will assist you in accessing the School Dental Service.

Enrolling your child for dental care at the end of Year 8 (Form 2)
Dental care for most teenagers is provided by private dentists. The dental therapist will give you or your teenager a transfer form or your teenager can go directly to the dentist of your choice and enroll. You are advised to contact the dentist of your choice and ask if they are providing free care for teenage patients first, because some may not be.

Changing the school dental clinic where your child is enrolled
You may choose to take your child to any school dental clinic. It is recommended that children attend the dental clinic assigned to the school. This may or may not be located on the school grounds. Your DHB will be able to advise you where your nearest clinic is located.

Shifting house and resuming dental care
If you are shifting house, advise the dental therapist of your planned shift. Ask for details of the clinic closet to your new address and contact the dental therapist following your move.

The dental therapist will also obtain information about new admissions to school to assist in ensuring dental care for school age children continues to be provided. There is no mechanism to follow up on shifts of families with pre-school children only.

It is important that parents advise the School Dental Service of their family’s movements to ensure continuation of service.

Dental care when the school clinic is closed or after hours
The School Dental Service in your area may offer services when schools are closed. Check availability of this service with your local District Health Board office.

A dentist under the Special Dental Benefit Scheme may provide emergency care. You will need to ask the dentist whether they treat children under the Special Dental Benefit Scheme. If not, you will have to pay for the treatment from that dentist yourself, or you can find a dentist who does treat children under the Special Dental Benefit Scheme.

There is no reimbursement for payment of private costs for dental care.

Page last reviewed: 26 July 2007