An oral health advisor in Northland is concerned only half of the adolescents in the region have access to dental services at a time when Maori people in the area have high levels of dental disease.
Neil Croucher says that while the rohe is well covered for dental services at primary and intermediate school level, the way care for 13 to 17 year olds is funded means a lot depends on the goodwill of private dentists.
Mr Croucher told Waatea News that neglected teeth can mean other health problems later.
He said starting a dental service requires a lot of capital and specialist expertise, putting it out of the range of many hauora organisations.
