Story: Dental care
Page 6 – The future of dental care
The changing face of dentistry
During the 1980s and 1990s there were changes in oral-health care, and in those who provide and receive it. Since the mid-1970s more women have become dentists, joining what had been an overwhelmingly white middle-class male profession.
In the 1990s a more ethnically diverse group – especially New Zealanders of Asian descent – trained as dentists. Increased migration of dentists to New Zealand has added to this ethnic mix.
Promoting Māori oral health
In 1995 Te Ao Marama, the New Zealand Māori Dental Association, was founded in response to evidence that Māori children had more decayed and missing teeth than non-Māori children, and were less likely to be enrolled in the School Dental Service as pre-schoolers. Māori adolescents were less likely than non-Māori adolescents to use the free dental benefit scheme. Māori adults had more decay and missing teeth, but often could not afford dentist visits.
Māori initiatives such as Te Mahi Niho Hauora ki Rātana Pā, a dental-health project at Rātana Pā using a Māori community health worker, School Dental Service equipment and a contracted dental surgeon, have succeeded in making oral health a community concern. Improved oral health, lessened distrust of dentists, and improved self-esteem and employment prospects among those receiving treatment have resulted.
Education and training
While the New Zealand Army had trained dental hygienists from 1974, the first training for civilian dental hygienists only began in 1994. From 1999 most dental training, for dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists, was centralised at the University of Otago in Dunedin.
Auckland University of Technology’s dual dental-therapist and -hygienist course for oral-health therapists began in 2006. Oral-health therapists and dental hygienists became able to operate within the Community Oral Health Service and private practice, breaking the monopoly of dentists in the provision of private oral-health care.
Prevention and enhancement
The service provided by dentists and dental therapists has changed as more New Zealanders retain their natural teeth. In the early 2000s there was greater emphasis on prevention of decay, and tooth preservation and enhancement. Heavily filled teeth were being monitored rather than removed.
In the early 21st century, cosmetic dentistry such as the use of braces, implanting false teeth into the jawbone, bleaching and capping teeth was becoming popular. Dentists had also accepted the need for informative as opposed to persuasive advertising.
