Country Correspondents: Roosa Tikkanen, Jennifer Schulz Moore, Aisha Gomez
The Smile NZ Free Dental Day, held in September 2018, provided free treatments to low-income patients across New Zealand. In its fourth year, the event saw 78 dentists volunteering across 55 dental practices to treat up to 925 low-income Kiwis with an urgent dental problem. Patients received treatments for fillings, tooth restorations, extractions, fluoride applications, and pain relief. Unlike medical fees, dental fees for adults are not subsidized by the New Zealand government, making dental care unattainable for many. The annual event, organized by the Southern Cross Health Trust and the New Zealand Dental Association, has provided treatments to more than 2,200 people since 2015.
