To our community

We would like to update you about the changes to the Children’s Community Dental Service (Auckland Regional Dental Service) in response to COVID-19.

At Covid-19 Alert level 3, the government’s restrictions on people's movements and travel are still in place. With this in mind, we are initially providing appointments for dental care for children who have been telephone assessed for recent dental pain; or who have current dental pain or infection.

The wellbeing of our community is paramount for us, therefore all parents and caregivers who are attending booked appointments will be asked to wear a face-covering/mask and use hand sanitiser on entering the clinic, and these will be provided on arrival.  

If your child is in pain or you have immediate concerns about their teeth, please phone 0800 TALK TEETH to speak with an oral health clinician, or alternatively contact your nearest clinic from one of the following options:

If you phone outside our normal operating hours of Monday-Friday 8am-4.30pm, please contact your after-hours GP or Healthline on 0800 611 116 or visit Healthline.govt.nz.

All non-essential appointments are postponed and we will be in touch with parents/ caregivers to reschedule these as circumstances allow. Our vans and Transportable Dental Units are also closed.

The key to keeping good oral health for our tamariki and whānau is to have healthy oral health habits at home. Please visit ards.co.nz and find general oral health message information sheets available under Multi-language resources, and frequently asked questions.

Thank you for your understanding during this time.

The Children’s Community Dental Service.

Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS)
Free dental assessments and care are provided for children and adolescents in the greater Auckland area.

Birth to Year 8
The ARDS School Dental service provides free dental services to children from birth to Year 8 who have been enrolled with the service. We operate from dental facilities across the greater Auckland area; these facilities include a mixture of fixed clinics, transportable dental units and dental vans. For more information about child dental care or to find a list of clinics near you please check our website here or phone 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583).

Adolescent Dental Care
Free dental care is provided for adolescents from Year 9 until their 18th birthday by contracted dental practices. Regardless of whether adolescents are at school, in paid employment or not, they are still entitled to free dental services. For more information about adolescent dental care or to find a dental practice who provides funded dental care near you please click here or phone 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583).

Enrolment
All babies born in Auckland's main hospitals are automatically registered with the Auckland Regional Dental Service. Your child will be invited to a dental appointment when they are about 1 year old.

If your child is new to Auckland or new to New Zealand they may not be registered with us. To enrol/register your child please complete the ARDS Dental Registration Update E-form here, phone 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583), or contact one of our dental facilities.