27 May 2019

Thousands of NZ children waiting months with toothache

From Morning Report, 8:10 am on 27 May 2019

Thousands of children across the country are being forced to suffer for months on end with severe toothache because of a huge waiting list for treatment.

As we have been reporting a Whāngarei toddler with rotten teeth and a painful abscess was told to sit it out for five months with Pamol and antibiotics because the public waiting list was so long.

Ivy Dyas' mother, Tari, says she ended up seeking private treatment at a cost of $4,700, because her daughter was in such agony.

Ministry of Health figures show average waiting times of several months for children who need serious dental procedures in Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Northland and Taranaki.

Specialist paediatric dentist Nina Vasan pulled out Ivy Dyas' four front teeth. She says it's common for kids to wait months for treatment.