Oral health

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora contracts with around 900 oral health providers throughout New Zealand to deliver free oral health education, preventive care and treatment to:

• adolescents from the start of high school until the day they turn 18 years old who receive Oral Health Services to Adolescents (OHSA).
• children referred by the Community Oral Health service who receive Special Dental Services (SDS).

Contractors agree to provide services under the OHSA, SDS or both. The Community Dental Agreement was last reviewed in 2025.

Health New Zealand works with the oral health sector to make annual Variations to the CDA on matters such as annual government funding increases.

General terms of reference for Community Dental Agreement (external link)

NZDA terms of reference for Community Dental Agreement (external link)