Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Time to smile: Free dental treatment for Kiwis in need

Hamilton News
8 Sep, 2020 07:20 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

One of the dentists taking part in last year's Smile Week programme. Photo / Supplied

One of the dentists taking part in last year's Smile Week programme. Photo / Supplied

An initiative providing free dental procedures for Kiwis has returned this month with a record number of dentists donating their time to the cause.

A total of 85 dentists from 52 clinics across New Zealand - including the Waikato - have volunteered to treat more than 1000 people in need of dental care.

The sixth annual Smile NZ Free Dental Days, running from September 14 to 27, will be offering more appointments than ever before.

Participating clinics in Hamilton include Revive a Smile Clinic, Nawton Dental Centre, and Hamilton East Dental.

Smile NZ is a joint initiative between Southern Cross Health Trust and the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA), where dentists open their practices to provide a range of treatments such as fillings, restorations and extractions to Kiwis in need.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

New Zealand Dental Association President Katie Ayers said there is a high level of need for dental care among low income adults.

"Our dentists are once again generously giving their time to help those who would otherwise miss out on the treatment they need.

"In 2020 the response has been incredible, with more dentists than ever signing up, despite the hardship they have experienced themselves this year."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

According to the Southern Cross Healthy Futures Report 2020, around one in five Kiwis don't seek any medical treatment when experiencing dental pain.

Dr Rebecca Yi, of Nawton Dental Centre, spoke on the initiative.

"I was inspired to volunteer after seeing so many patients put off their dental work because of cost. I am eager to see the healthy smiles on peoples' faces after I have treated them."

Dr Jason Wu, operating out of Hamilton East Dental Centre, also shared his reason for joining the programme.

"This is my first year participating in the Smile NZ Free Dental Days in Hamilton and I am excited at the chance to give back to the local community which I grew up in."

The programme has proved a great success over six years, and after this year's programme will have treated around 5000 Kiwis.

Southern Cross Health Trust chief executive Terry Moore said this illustrated that Smile NZ had made a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of people.

• UPDATE: The NZ Dental Association advised on Friday that all appointments under the scheme have now been filled. - Editor

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato Herald

'Please do not do it': Man inflicted intense pain on woman during violation

04 Jul 08:00 AM
Waikato Herald

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

04 Jul 02:00 AM
Waikato Herald

'Shaken' ordeal: Bar worker confronted with gun in Hamilton robbery

04 Jul 01:02 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

'Please do not do it': Man inflicted intense pain on woman during violation
Waikato Herald

'Please do not do it': Man inflicted intense pain on woman during violation

04 Jul 08:00 AM

Judge Tompkins said Michael Mead, 64, posed a 'very high risk' in the future.

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor
Waikato Herald

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

04 Jul 02:00 AM
'Shaken' ordeal: Bar worker confronted with gun in Hamilton robbery
Waikato Herald

'Shaken' ordeal: Bar worker confronted with gun in Hamilton robbery

04 Jul 01:02 AM
'A f****** ugly mess': Gang boss' text after fatal hotbox attack on mate of 20 years
Waikato Herald

'A f****** ugly mess': Gang boss' text after fatal hotbox attack on mate of 20 years

04 Jul 12:24 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP