Community oral health service — Otago and Southland
Good oral health is important for overall good health and wellbeing. We provide free routine oral health care for eligible tamariki (children) and rangatahi (teenagers) from birth until their 18th birthday in Southland and Otago, even if they have left school.
Contact us
Contact community oral health services by:
- freephone 0800 672 543 in Otago
- freephone 0800 570 300 in Southland
- email community.oralhealth@southerndhb.govt.nz
Postal address
Otago
Community Oral Health Service
Private Bag 1921
Dunedin 9054
Southland
Community Oral Health Service
PO Box 828
Invercargill 9840
Eligibility for free routine dental health care
The community oral health service provides free routine dental care for all tamariki who meet the eligibility criteria for publicly funded health care services.
Contact us if you need help to check your eligibility for our service.
Enrolment information
Enrol your tamariki and rangatahi with the community oral health service by filling out our enrolment form:
Free dental care for tamariki (children)
Our service offers free routine dental care for eligible tamariki in New Zealand from birth until the end of their school year 8 (around age 12).
We provide:
- advice on how to care for your tamariki’s teeth every day
- preventative treatments such as fluoride varnish and fissure sealants to help protect teeth from decay
- dental check-ups and x-rays (if needed)
- silver diamine fluoride application, fillings, stainless-steel crowns or extractions (if necessary).
Contact us to arrange an appointment for your tamariki.
Free dental care for rangatahi (teenagers)
Free routine dental care is available for all eligible rangatahi until their 18th birthday, even if they have left school. In Otago and Southland, their free dental care transfers from the community oral health service to a participating local dental provider at the start of school year 9.
At the end of school year 8, the community oral health service will support rangatahi to transfer to a participating local dental provider. This is a dentist, oral health therapist or dental therapist who is approved to provide free dental care on behalf of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
Contact us for a list of current participating dental providers in your local area, or visit Healthpoint.
Dentistry in Waitaki (Oamaru to Palmerston) — Healthpoint
Dentistry in Dunedin and South Otago — Healthpoint
Mobile clinics
Alongside our community clinics located in the main cities and towns, we have a small fleet of mobile dental clinics that visit smaller townships and rural areas across the region. We let each local community know in advance when a mobile dental clinic is coming to their area.
If your tamaiti requires dental care when the mobile dental clinic is not in your area, they can seek this care at their nearest community clinic or at a clinic convenient for you.
Contact us to arrange an appointment.
- Abbotsford School, Dunedin
- Wakari Hospital, Dunedin
- Catlins Area School, Owaka
- Clutha Valley School, Clydevale
- Goldfields School, Cromwell
- Kaitangata School, Kaitangata
- Lawrence Area School, Lawrence
- Strath Taieri School, Middlemarch
- Tokomairiro High School, Milton
- Omakau School, Omakau
- East Otago High School, Palmerston
- Port Chalmers School, Port Chalmers
- Portobello School, Portobello
- Maniototo Area School, Ranfurly
- Roxburgh Area School, Roxburgh
- Tapanui School, Tapanui
- Waikouaiti School, Waikouaiti
- Waitaki Valley School, Kurow
- Ascot Community School, Invercargill
- Donovan Primary School, Invercargill
- Newfield Park School, Invercargill
- Te Wharekura O Arowhenua, Invercargill
- Bluff Community School, Bluff
- Mataura School, Mataura
- Otautau School, Otautau
- Takitimu Primary School, Nightcaps
- Te Anau Primary School, Te Anau
- Tuatapere Community College, Tuatapere
- Wyndham Primary School, Wyndham