Good oral health and hygiene is an important part of general health for the whole family (babies through to older adults).  Through our provider arrangements, Counties Manukau Health supports and funds Oral Health promotion, education and treatment services.   Families are encouraged to enrol their children with the regional school dental services (ARDS) as infants and to ensure their teenagers are enrolled with the free adolescent services too.  From 18 years of age we encourage all adults to regularly attend local dentists for prevention and maintenance services and to keep your mouth and teeth healthy.  Most adult oral health is provided by private dental services and is not subsidised.  Work and Income NZ also support oral health to low income people through their grant schemes.

Counties Manukau Health provides some emergency dental services (relief of pain and infection only) for community services card holders through both Hospital and selected Community providers.  These services incur a patient contribution. 

Through our Auckland District Health Board partners we also provide for a full range of hospital dental services including care for special needs patients; those with medical conditions which necessitate hospital dental care; and specialist dental services such as cleft palate and complex oral care.

Many primary and community services, such as well child and PHOs, also support child oral health with family oral health education, promotion and facilitating enrolment process.

In 2006/2007 CMDHB undertook a significant project of review of the way (and where) child and adolescent oral health services need to be delivered in future.  The project was a continuation of the implementation of our 2005 CMDHB Oral Health Plan and also the Ministry of Health’s vision 'Good Oral Health for all: for life (2006)'.