Community Dental Service
Contact us
- 0800 84 69 83
Location
Hours
Address
Community Dental Service
Canterbury District Health Board
PO Box 731
Christchurch
See our community dental clinic locations or see local dentists contact details under the Children 5 years – Yr 8 tab
Category(s)
No “walk-in” dental clinics
Please note that you cannot “turn up” to a dental clinic. All patients need to be referred by their GP or another health professional, unless advised by the Community Dental service.
About the Community Dental Service
The Community Dental Service provides free dental care for eligible children living in Canterbury and South Canterbury. We also help teens find a free family dentist. Pre-school children (0-4 years) have their teeth checked and treated in a Community Dental Clinic. We have 14 clinics throughout Canterbury. Our dental vans visit primary and intermediate schools to check children’s teeth. School aged children visit a Community Dental Clinic if they need treatment.
To enrol your child, book an appointment, or update contact details, please call 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz
If your child is in pain, please contact us to book a Relief of Pain appointment. If we are unable to offer your child a Relief of Pain appointment, we will help you get an appointment at a family dentist for free.
The Community Dental Service provides free dental care for eligible children living in Canterbury and South Canterbury. Children ARE eligible for free dental care if they are a:
- New Zealand Citizen
- Permanent Resident
- Or have a parent or primary caregiver on a 2 year work visa (consecutive)
If you need to check eligibility, please visit the Ministry of Health website.
Whānau new to Canterbury
If you are new to Canterbury and contact us to enrol your child, we will ask for your child’s National Health Index (NHI) number. If you don’t know your child’s NHI number, we will ask you for more information (date of birth, full name, etc) which will help us find their NHI number.
To check your child is eligible for free care, you may be asked to scan and email your child’s passport and your visa documents, or citizenship certificate, to commdental@cdhb.health.nz
Interpreter Services
Interpreter Services are available for people who are deaf or do not speak English as their first language. The service is available 24 hours a day, is free of charge, and has a large number of languages available.
The service will be able to help with enrolling your child or booking an appointment. An interpreter may be able to attend an appointment with you.
Baby
Since May 2017, all babies born in Canterbury and South Canterbury, are enrolled at birth with the Community Dental Service, unless parent/caregiver declines.
All children should have their first dental check around 2 years of age.
Pre-school and school aged children
Parents and caregivers can enrol their child by calling 0800 846 983 or emailing commdental@cdhb.health.nz
Your Well Child/Tamariki Ora Provider, Family Doctor or Public Health Nurse can also help with your child’s enrolment.
Teenagers
To enrol a teen in free dental care, contact a free family dentist. If you need more information you can contact the Adolescent Oral Health Coordinator, 0800 825 583 or freedentalcare@cdhb.health.nz
Whānau new to Canterbury
If you are new to Canterbury and would like to enrol a child, we will ask for your child’s National Health Index (NHI) number. If you don’t know your child’s NHI number, we will ask you for more information (date of birth, full name, etc) which will help us find their NHI number.
If you are unsure if your child can have free dental care, check our eligibility page.
How to book
To book an appointment for a pre-school or school aged child, please call 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz. You can book an appointment Monday—Friday, 8:45am—3:30pm, during the school term. You can book an appointment at any Community Dental Clinics.
If you have more than one child needing an appointment, you may be able to book a family appointment. A family appointment means your children can get seen at the same appointment.
After an appointment is booked, we will send you a text reminder. You should get a text the day before your appointment. The text will confirm the time and location of your child’s appointment. If you are unable to make the appointment, please let us know, as we can reschedule your child’s appointment.
Interpreter Services
Interpreter Services are available for people who are deaf or do not speak English as their first language. The service is available 24 hours a day, is free of charge and has a large number of languages available. The service will be able to help with enrolling your child or booking an appointment. An interpreter may be able to attend an appointment with you.
Transport support
It’s not always easy getting to appointments. If you need a little help, please let us know as we may be able to put you in touch with a support service.
Relief of Pain Appointments
If your child is in pain, we may be able to offer you a Relief of Pain appointment. To book a Relief of Pain appointment please call 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz
Information for adults who have dental pain is on the Dental Department page.
Ashburton Community Dental Clinic
- PO Box 251, 38 Elizabeth Street, ASHBURTON
- 0800 84 69 83
Hillmorton Community Dental Clinic
- Hillmorton Hospital, Sylvan Street, CHRISTCHURCH
- 0800 84 69 83
Kaiapoi Community Dental Clinic
- Kaiapoi Borough School, 65 Raven Quay, KAIAPOI
- 0800 84 69 83
Rangiora Community Dental Clinic
- Rangiora Health Hub, 163 Ashley Street, RANGIORA
- 0800 84 69 83
Pre-school children have their teeth checked and treated in a Community Dental Clinic.
They should have their teeth checked each year and most will have their first dental check at 2 years of age. Parents and caregivers can bring their pre-schooler for an earlier visit if they have any concerns.
To enrol or book an appointment for a pre-schooler contact 0800 846 983 or commdental@cdhb.health.nz. You’ll need to let us know what clinic you’d like to visit, take a look at our dental clinic locations.
If you are new to Canterbury or unsure if your child is eligible for free care check our enrolment or eligibility page.
Check-ups
Children at primary and intermediate school have their teeth checked in a dental van. Our dental vans visit all primary and intermediate schools in Canterbury and South Canterbury. Information about our visit will be in the school newsletter or on the school website.
Treatment
If a child needs treatment, they will bring home a care plan. To book a treatment appointment for your child, call 0800 846 983 or e-mail commdental@cdhb.health.nz. You can choose which Community Dental Clinic to visit (link to clinic)
Year 8
At the end of Year 8 children leave the Community Dental Service and transfer to FREE Adolescent Dental Care. Please remind your child of your family dentist before the dental van visit. You will be advised of our visit in your school newsletter or on the school website. To check if your Year 8 has been transferred, call 0800 846 983 or email freedentalcare@cdhb.health.nz
To find a FREE dentist for Year 9 onwards visit the Teenagers page.
Find a FREE family dentist
Enrolment and booking appointments
Contact the free family dentist to enrol or book an appointment. Some family dentists offer weekend appointments, are open late nights, or can take bookings by e-mail.
- Free dental care continues until your teens 18th birthday.
- Most family dentists provide free care for teens who are at school, on a course, working or looking for work. Your teen can have a free check (exam and x-rays) each year.
- Most treatment (fillings and extractions) are also free.
Avonhead
| Dr Brian Ngan Dr Rhonda Ding Dr John Chong Avonhead Dental Centre 62 Grahams Road, Burnside 8041 Ph: 03 358 4169 |
Dr Hua Gao |
Bishopdale
|
Dr Anne Bush Email: reception@bushdental.co.nz |
Dr Andrew Were Ph: 03 359 2999 |
Bryndwr
| Dr Chris Kennedy (family only) Dr Stephen Simmons Dr Alice Olds Northwest Dental Centre Email: nwdc@xtra.co.nz |
Dr John Morton (family only) |
Burnside
| Dr Neill Bradley Dr John Pope Lumino-Wairakei Dental Centre 5-515 Wairakei Road, Burnside, 8053 Ph: 03 359 8118 |
Dr Raymond Young |
Cashmere
|
Dr Carl McGregor |
|
Christchurch City Centre
|
Dr Michael Shand Email: info@riversidedental.co.nz |
Dr Tony Jackson |
|
Dr Christopher Richmond (family only) |
Dr Ankit Khanna |
|
Dr Mark Harris |
Dr Andrea Murray |
|
Dr Tom Moriarty |
Dr Les Ewart |
|
Dr Sarah Gray |
Garden City Dental |
|
Dr Elliot Stevens |
|
Ferrymead
|
Dr Wyn Mossman |
|
Halswell
|
Dr Vivienne Levy Email: info@halswelldental.co.nz |
Dr Vivienne Levy |
Hornby
|
Dr Jennifer Tirtawijaya |
Dr Meena Chawdhry |
Ilam
|
Dr Peter Malcolm |
|
Linwood
|
Dr Shorokh Hamadani |
Dr Kevin Wong |
Merivale
|
Dr Anthony Wood Bradley Wood Dentists Ltd |
Dr Jenny Kim |
|
Dr Rob Blackburne (family only) |
Dr Joanna Pedlow Brightsmiles |
New Brighton
|
Dr Armin Svoboda |
Dr Lester Settle |
Northcote
|
Dr Ray Barakauskas |
|
Papanui
|
Dr Dana Papusoi |
Dr Bill Kennedy |
|
Dr Emma Ward |
|
Phillipstown
|
Dr Christopher Quick |
|
Redcliffs
|
Redcliffs Dental Centre |
|
Redwood
|
Dr Shane Summerfield |
|
Riccarton
|
Dr Kent Agar |
Dr Wayne Moyle |
|
Dr Kalo Malthus |
Dr Ruchika Sachdev |
|
Dr Alwyn Prinsloo |
Dr Soon Jee Low |
Richmond
|
Dr Fran Connor |
Dr Ben Harris (family only) |
Shirley
|
Dr Graham King |
Dr Tracy Haggerty |
|
Dr Colin Viegas |
Dr Elliot Stevens |
Spreydon
|
Dr Tony York |
Dr Christopher Hansen |
|
Dr Lindsay Acker |
Dr Ron Forster |
|
Dr Sonja van Erkel (family only) |
|
St Albans
|
Dr Peter Platts |
|
Strowan
|
Dr Jane Mason |
Dr Keith Chiang |
Sydenham
|
Dr Peter Pallett |
Dr Natalie Majgaonkar Smile Concepts |
|
Dr Sam Brady |
|
Waltham
|
Dr Joanne Sheehan |
|
Akaroa
|
Dr Kevin Scally |
|
Ashburton
|
Dr Justin Wall |
Dr Michael Holdaway |
|
Burnett Street Dental |
G & E Dental Ashburton 131 Walnut Ave, Ashburton Ph: 0800 433 368 |
Broadfield
|
Dr Alwyn Prinsloo |
Darfield
|
Dr David Rumble |
|
Kaiapoi
|
Dr Jeremy Stevens |
Dr Nigel Ackroyd |
|
Dr Peter Van Kuijk |
Dr Beata Baumann |
Kaikoura
|
Dr Christopher Lidgard |
|
Lincoln
|
Dr Shayne Richardson |
|
Rangiora
|
Dr Gregory Ryan |
Dr Kevin Ryder |
|
Dr Tony Fox (family only) |
Dr Meena Chawdhry Dr Donna O’Kane Dr Alham Jeong Dr Minu Abraham Dr Napat Samunya G&E Dental 52 Charles Street Rangiora Ph: 03 928 3530 Ph: 0800 433 368 |
|
Lumino Rangiora |
|
Rolleston
|
Dr Daniel Fozard |
Dr Meena Chawdry |
Pegasus
|
Dr Ajith Polonowita |
|
Geraldine
|
Dr Kenny Kim |
|
Temuka
| Dr Francis McIvor
Lumino Dental Limited Temuka |
|
Timaru
|
Dr Kasia Borkowski |
Dr Mark Goodhew |
|
Dr David Hutton |
Dr Tony Page |
Waimate
|
Dr Hassan Ahmed |
|
Keep teeth healthy by:
- Brushing after breakfast and before bed
- Use a soft bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste (link to open toothpaste poster)
- Remember, spit toothpaste out, don’t rinse with water
- Get your teeth checked each year
- Drink plenty of water and choose plain milk
- Try healthy lunch box ideas
- TOOTH BRUSHING Apps (Wiggles App, Mcleans and Colgate,)
Page last updated: 17 May 2019
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