HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Urgent dental care
If you or a whānau (family) member has toothache or an injury to your teeth or gums, get help as soon as possible.
If it's after hours or the weekend, you may need to contact an after-hours dentist (see below).
Your general practice team may be able to provide relief from pain or infection, but you'll still need to see a dentist later.
If you're on a low income or benefit, you may be able to get subsidised (lower cost) dental care. See below for details of how you may be able to get ACC treatment, a Work and Income (WINZ) emergency grant or subsidised urgent care from a private dentist.
After-hours dentists
The following dental practices have extended hours. Check their websites for their opening hours.
Practice name |
Address |
Phone number |
|---|---|---|
369 Main South Rd, Hornby |
(03) 347-4703 |
|
237 Bealey Ave, Christchurch Central |
(03) 379-6222 |
|
17 Northcote Rd, Papanui |
(03) 354-9549 |
|
Level 1, 91 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton |
(03) 366-8866 |
|
178 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton |
(03) 341-1122 |
You can also call the emergency after-hours duty dentist in Christchurch on 022-620-5350.
ACC treatment
If your teeth are damaged as a result of an accident, see your normal dentist or an after-hours dentist (see above). ACC will pay for part of the treatment for teeth damaged in accidents, but you may have to pay some of the cost. Phone ACC on 0800-101-996, email them or see ACC dental injury for more information.
Work and Income (WINZ) emergency grant
If you're on a low income or benefit, you can apply for up to $1,000 a year (any 52-week period) to help pay for immediate and essential dental treatment. You do not have to pay this back.
This is income and asset tested and has other eligibility requirements. See Work and Income – Dental treatment for details.
Talk to your dentist about applying for the grant before you start the treatment.
Subsidised urgent care from a private dentist
Some private dentists have a contract with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury to provide subsidised urgent care. To be eligible for subsidised urgent treatment, you must live in Canterbury or the West Coast and have a current Community Services Card.
Participating dental practices allow for a 30-minute visit. During this time, a dentist will assess your problem and provide any necessary dental treatment. If you need further treatment, you'll have to pay the dentist's usual fees for this.
If the dentist decides the condition doesn't meet the definition of a dental emergency, they will charge their usual fees.
You'll have to pay a co-payment of up to $40 for a visit under this scheme.
Participating dental practices
Practice name |
Address |
Phone number |
|---|---|---|
Colombo Street Dental |
201 Colombo St, Sydenham |
(03) 337-4596 |
Halswell Dental |
284 Halswell Rd, Halswell |
(03) 322-9577 |
Hornby Dental – Dr Daniel Chan |
5 Tower St, Hornby |
(03) 349-5059 |
Hoon Hay Dental Surgery |
14A Lincoln Rd, Spreydon |
(03) 338-9101 |
Kaikōura Dental Centre |
6A West End, Kaikōura |
(03) 319-5629 |
Redwood Family Dentists |
186 Main North Rd, Redwood |
(03) 352-6186 |
Richmond Dental |
45 North Avon Rd, Richmond |
(03) 389-5923 |
Dr Peter Van Kuijk |
129 Williams St, Kaiapoi |
(03) 327-7199 |
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created April 2023.
Review key: HIDCC-49010
