HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Dental care for teenagers
Te ratonga niho mō ngā rangatahi
Through the Community Dental Service, dental care is free for rangatahi (teenagers) who are at school, on a course, working or seeking work. This goes from Year 9 until their 18th birthday.
If your rangatahi has not visited a dentist since beginning high school, they can enrol any time before their 18th birthday.
The free service entitles your rangatahi to a check-up once every 12 months. X-rays and most treatments (such as fillings) are also free. Orthodontic care and tooth whitening are not free.
Enrolment
Your rangatahi will need to fill in an enrolment form at their dental appointment or print one off and take it with them.
For more information call 0800-TALK-TEETH (0800-825-583) or email.
You can search for dentists on the New Zealand Dental Association's website or the Dental Council of New Zealand's website.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2025.
Sources
See also:
Review key: HIDCC-49010
