Otago children face a lengthy wait to see a dentist
Children living in the Otago region of New Zealand are facing a lengthy wait to see the dentist, it has been revealed.
Figures show that almost 20 percent of children in Dunedin are up to 10 months behind where they should be in terms of dental checks, with many facing a wait of several months to get an appointment at a local clinic.
Tim Mackay, oral health clinical director at Southern District Health Board, said that the aim was to provide every school-age child with a check-up at least once a year; however, there are many children in Dunedin waiting longer than a year to see a dentist. The worst affected areas are South Dunedin and Mosgiel.
The wait for treatment has caused concern for parents, with some waiting for news of checks that were due in July.
Dr Mackay explained that the backlog was mainly due to staffing problems. Last year, a number of dentists retired and competition to recruit new dentists and dental therapists is tough, with many preferring to work in the private sector.
Join this Discussion