Community Oral Health Services

Community Oral Health Services (COHS) provides free school-based clinics for 0-13 year olds, as well as all the adolescents that attend Wairoa College up to the age of 18. Early pre-school enrolment in COHS helps parents prevent their children having poor dental health.

Health New Zealand Hawke’s Bay delivers Community Oral Health Services to the school community comprising over 32,000 tamariki utilising alternative models of care.

These include one of our nine Dental Hubs or a Mobile Dental Unit located in the community. Wherever possible we work to ensure that tamariki are offered appointments at a location that is easily accessible for their whānau.

Both school age and preschool tamariki are now seen in the Mobile Dental Units – which enables whānau to be seen at one visit.

As such tamariki at a particular school won’t necessarily be seen as a ‘group’ as they may have in the past, but will be recalled as prioritised/due.

Tamatea Dental Hub, Greenmeadows and Onekawa Hubs, along with two of our Mobile Dental Units have and continue to provide services to tamariki.

Please note that in our school service we continue to prioritise:
- Tamariki who are most overdue
- Year eight tamariki prior to them transferring from our service to funded care with dental practitioners
- Māori and Pacific, and
- Those at greatest risk of poor oral health.

Relief of Pain Service

A relief of pain service is available Monday – Friday, and will see any child who has pain or other oral health issues of concern. Parents are encouraged to contact our service on 027 2736 731, to discuss any concerns they may have about their child’s oral health.