The Wellington City Mission will launch a free dental service next month to help meet significant unmet oral health needs in the capital.
The service will open on 10 February and operate three days a week. Dentists from Ora Toa will provide care, with access available by referral only through social agencies across the Greater Wellington region.
Mission spokesperson Murray Edridge said demand for dental support is high, with an estimated one in three adults living with untreated tooth decay.
He said people on low incomes and those facing ongoing hardship are most affected, often because financial pressures make dental care unaffordable.
“For many people, life circumstances mean dental treatment is repeatedly pushed aside,” Edridge said. “High costs often result in problems being left untreated for years.”
Edridge added that poor oral health can significantly affect a person’s overall wellbeing.
“Anyone who has suffered from tooth pain knows how disruptive it can be,” he said. “Being able to support people who are in pain is a privilege for the City Mission.”
The clinic will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Whakamaru on Oxford Terrace.