Children's dental health has improved significantly over the past two years, the Government claims.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne, who is responsible for oral health, said 18 percent more pre-school children were enrolled for district health board (DHB) dental services compared with 2007 and 20,000 more adolescents were accessing free oral health care through their local dentists, a 12 percent increase.
"There were some obvious problems that needed fixing and we are on our way," Mr Dunne said.
"The waiting list for enrolled children waiting to see a dental therapist has nearly halved since 2007, which is a significant achievement given the changes the service has been going through in the last two years."
The changes meant DHBs would focus on preventing oral disease and not just on drilling and filling, Mr Dunne said.
Health Minister Tony Ryall said the Ministry of Health and DHBs had been working hard to fix oral health services for children.
"Until recently we had been seeing more severe dental decay in children, especially in the highest-need population, but that situation is improving," he said.
Mr Dunne said the Government had invested $40 million in new buildings and mobile dental clinics for children and would invest a further $80 million over the next two years.
NZPA