Some Southlanders are waiting up to four months to see a dentist. The New Zealand Dental Association is calling for government support in Southland where patients are waiting more than four months to see a dentist. Southland dentists are feeling burnt out, while patients are at risk of losing their teeth as tooth decay, gum disease or other dental diseases progressively become worse. Dental Association Southland president Dr Kate Tiriaere said dentists were unable to see any new patients as they were overbooked caring for their existing patients. All Southland dentists worked on the emergency roster and after hours care had been busier than ever, Reid said, with many patients travelling from Invercargill.

Source: Stuff October 02, 2021 22:52 UTC