The Government is increasing the number of dentistry students who can train each year, but with the cost of dental treatment remaining a major barrier for thousands of New Zealanders, questions are being raised about whether producing more dentists will be enough to fix the country’s oral healthcare challenges.
Jasmine Taankink joins Radio Waatea to discuss the Government’s latest move to expand dental training and whether it will translate into more affordable and accessible dental care for whānau.
The announcement comes amid longstanding concerns about the cost of dental treatment, workforce shortages and inequalities in access to oral healthcare.
While increasing the number of dentists could improve the availability of services over time, advocates argue that affordability remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing people from seeking treatment.
MORE DENTISTS IN TRAINING
The Government’s decision to increase dentistry training places is intended to strengthen New Zealand’s future oral health workforce.
Training additional dentists could help address workforce shortages and improve access to dental services, particularly in communities where appointments can be difficult to secure.
However, the benefits will take time to materialise, with dental students requiring several years of education and clinical training before entering the workforce.
There are also questions about where newly qualified dentists will choose to practise and whether additional graduates will be encouraged to work in rural communities and areas experiencing the greatest shortages.
For many New Zealanders, the immediate challenge is not simply finding a dentist but being able to afford an appointment.
COST REMAINS THE BIGGEST BARRIER
Unlike many other essential health services, routine adult dental care in New Zealand is generally paid for privately.
That means the cost of check-ups, fillings, extractions and other treatments can place significant pressure on household budgets.
For families already struggling with rent, groceries, electricity and transport costs, dental treatment can become an expense that is postponed until absolutely necessary.
Delaying treatment can allow relatively minor oral health problems to develop into more serious conditions, potentially requiring more expensive and invasive procedures.
The result can be a cycle in which people avoid the dentist because of cost, only to face greater health problems and higher bills later.
Taankink’s discussion raises the central question of whether increasing the supply of dentists will meaningfully improve access if patients still cannot afford their services.
MĀORI WHĀNAU FACE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES
Dental affordability is also an important health equity issue for Māori.
Māori experience significant disparities in oral health outcomes, reflecting wider barriers involving income, access to services and the social determinants of health.
For whānau living in rural or isolated communities, the challenges can be compounded by travel costs, limited local services and difficulties securing appointments.
Poor oral health can affect far more than teeth and gums.
Untreated dental problems can cause persistent pain, difficulty eating, disrupted sleep and reduced quality of life.
They can also affect people’s confidence, employment opportunities and overall wellbeing.
For Māori health advocates, improving oral healthcare requires services that are affordable, accessible and responsive to the needs of whānau.
Increasing the number of dentists may be part of the solution, but it does not automatically remove the financial barriers that prevent people from receiving treatment.
GOVERNMENT ADDS 12 DENTAL TRAINING PLACES
The Government has confirmed that the University of Otago will receive funding for 12 additional domestic dentistry students annually from 2027, lifting the intake from 60 to 72.
The 20 percent increase is the first expansion of funded domestic dental places since 2014.
Two additional places will be reserved for students from rural backgrounds, increasing the minimum rural allocation from 10 to 12.
The New Zealand Dental Association has welcomed the decision but says the first additional dentists are not expected to enter the workforce until 2030. <Cite refs={[“turn889513search2″,”turn889513search11”]}/>
NEARLY HALF OF ADULTS FACE A COST BARRIER
The scale of the affordability problem is significant.
According to the New Zealand Dental Association’s 2026 Oral Health Report Card, 43 percent of adults, approximately 1.775 million people, say cost prevents them from accessing the dental treatment they need.
The association has called for targeted, publicly funded support for people facing the greatest barriers, including young adults and older New Zealanders. <Cite ref=”turn889513search3″/>
Health New Zealand’s workforce analysis also identifies cost as a particular barrier for Māori, Pacific peoples and low-income whānau. <Cite ref=”turn889513search0″/>
IS TRAINING MORE DENTISTS ENOUGH?
The Government’s announcement addresses one part of the problem: the shortage of trained dental professionals.
But it does not directly change the cost of treatment for adults who currently rely on privately funded dental services.
For patients already delaying appointments because of the expense, the increase in student places is unlikely to provide immediate relief.
The debate therefore raises wider questions about publicly funded adult dental care, targeted subsidies, rural services and the role of oral health therapists in improving access.
As New Zealand prepares to train more dentists, the challenge is ensuring that the people who need dental treatment can actually afford to receive it.
Jasmine Taankink joins Radio Waatea to discuss the Government’s announcement, the financial barriers facing patients and what more needs to be done to improve dental care for Māori whānau and communities across Aotearoa.
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