Free dental care for desperate patients

Email
Print

Free dental care for desperate patients

3News NZ

One in three kiwis have untreated coronal decay

One in three kiwis have untreated coronal decay

A recent survey by the Ministry of Health showed one in three kiwi adults had untreated coronal decay, and one in ten had root decay.

That is a lot of bad teeth, a lot of pain, and to get it fixed is a lot of money.

So in an effort to get that message across - and fix a whole bunch of rotten teeth at the same time - Colgate and the New Zealand Dental Association are running two days of free dental care for in-need patients.

As Tristram Clayton reveals, some of that care is long overdue, and desperately needed.

Watch the video for the full report

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

31/03/2013 11:44:32 a.m.

Marilyn jones wrote:

My big sister is the most wonderful mother to her four children, she has spent the last 25 years looking after her partner and her children with literally nothing for herself. She has the worst teeth I have ever seen and cannot believe she lives daily with the pain that they cause her. You will never hear her complain about anything, she just carries on smiling(hiding behind her hand because of the embarrassment) . Her mouth is full of abscesses and with absolutely no spare money for even clothes for herself my heart breaks. There is no one more deserving than my big sister for some help with this. :(

22/12/2012 1:40:48 a.m.

Rita Beckmannflay wrote:

Very cool that this is happening for our Southern suburbs but Scott Waghorn at DentalCare West, Glen Eden have been doing a FREE Dental Service Day just before Christmas every year for a little while now, today Friday, 21 December was that day...

28/10/2012 2:37:49 p.m.

Doreen wrote:

I am 47 and years ago when the Dentist were at primary school we use to call me Murder houses, cause back then there was no pain killer to take, and there were those old old drills they use to use. What really surprised me now was that back then they use to use this thin strip of very fin sand paper to clean between the teeth and now this has caused so many holes in my teeth that i have to pay for now, this is what the Health Department should be paying for not me.

25/10/2012 10:37:10 p.m.

Rosa wrote:

I wish someone can help me for this problem, I'm really want to fix my teeth, but I can't affort it. I went to Manurewa to see the dentist but they told me i need to pay 120 dollars just pull out only one teeth, I just can't believe it.

25/10/2012 9:49:56 p.m.

Rosa wrote:

I'm really disappointment to myself when I look at to myself infront of the mirror, because I see how ugly I am due of my bad tooths,I can't affort it to pay to get fix, because I'm study full time at AUT University and only my hubby is working to provide for my family. I just can't believe that the government is not doing anything to help people here in New Zealand, those who working in low income. Sometimes i don't want to talk to anybody because I felt so embarrassed to talk because I think I got a bad breath due of my bad teeth. I don't know what else I can do to help me to fell happy again.

15/10/2012 3:42:22 p.m.

Miss Unhappy Teeth wrote:

I have bad teeth, i went to the dentist to get a quote just for the bare minimum of what it would cost. As i have a hole and its in my front tooth i need a root canal - i dont have a choice really for the front one and have to get it done. I have the xrays with me in the hopes of going to get other quotes but it took alot of courage just to go and let the dentist i did see look at my teeth. my other teeth that need attention i have just opted to get those pulled as i can't afford to get anything other than that done, and then thought after i get those pulled maybe i can get a plate of some sort to fill the gap. I work full time in a corporate industry but cannot afford to get the lot done in one hit. Some days i feel sick because of the poisonous absesses i have in my gums. i constantly have to chew gum because of the smell. some days i dont eat because my mouth is just SORE. I dont mind paying for the treatment but no dentist would accept the amount i could afford per month esp with my credit. I've had a look at those overseas holidays where i can get dental work done but that's plain scarey... i live in nz and would love to have the work done here. I need help with my teeth, i have neglected looking after them & now that i know the pain i have to go through, i constantly tell my children to ensure they floss, i regularly book them in every 6 months for their dental checks because i dont want them to have to suffer like me. what to do?

13/09/2012 2:37:41 p.m.

Gina Maree Mills wrote:

i agree dental care coast far to much for me to have my teeth fixed is going to coast me an arm an a leg money i don,t have i cant get help at the hospital as i don,t have a community card.so what do we have to do to get help.i have been turned down for jobs becouase off the way my teeth look.come on nz help us that need the help

13/09/2012 2:32:02 p.m.

Gina Maree Mills wrote:

i agree dental care coast far to much for me to have my teeth fixed is going to coast me an arm an a leg money i don,t have i cant get help at the hospital as i don,t have a community card.so what do we have to do to get help.

29/08/2012 11:24:47 a.m.

Desperately need help wrote:

I am 44 years old and have had bad teeth all my life,I spent thousands getting them fixed in my younger days and found out later on that the fillings I had done were done wrong by my previous dentist (now deceased) and they needed to be done again. Also last year I was playing squash and a got hit in the mouth and three of my front teeth got loose, I tried ACC but was told due to me having perio, which I just found out about they wouldn't cover me. I need a lot more done but just can't afford it. I also was having dinner one night and bit on my fork by accident and broke my bottom tooth, which ACC wouldn't help with, now last nigh while having dinner I bit down on some food and felt a crack on my tooth and a filling is pretty loose in there, I also have another filling that needs to be done but I just can't afford it. I get niggly pains all the time but have to bear it. I don't even tell my family sometimes as I know we just can't afford so I bear the pain, that's all I can do. I got a quote for two fillings today from the cheapest dentist in my area, at a cost of approx $160 to $180 each depending on how bad they are.

19/08/2012 7:40:56 p.m.

sara wrote:

i am 20 years old my teeth are fallen apart plus i have rotten ones i have 2 kids and 1 more on the way and really need them fixed but dental treatment is way to dear for my budget